Family history of breast cancer as a risk indicator for the disease in some University Hospital

ABSTRACT

Cancer is becoming more and more prevalent in different countries all over the world. This increasing prevalence led to the rapid expansion of activities in cancer research and cancer control. Breast cancer accounts for 31.3% of all cancer among Egyptian Women [Omar, 1984]. In this work a sample of 300 patients suffering from breast cancer were chosen form National cancer institute [NCI] in Cairo and some university hospitals. A control group of 150 apparantly healthy women were chosen from the same centers but they were free from the disease. A questionnaire was fulfilled through personal interview and it included different variables relevant to the family history to breast cancer as a risk indicator. The results revealed that 6% of cancer cases had positive family history of breast cancer compared to zero% in the control group. At the same time first degree relatives with breast cancer comprised 3.4% of cases and zero% for controls. In addition it was observed that positive family history of bilateral breast affection occurred in 0.6% while family history of unilateral breast affection occured in 5.3% First degree relatives of patients with unilateral breast cancer had a higher rate 3.1% than bilateral breast cancer 0.3%. The same finding was also noted among second and far degree relative 2.2% compared to 0.3%