ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was two fold: to identify gynecological characteristics that distinguish women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer from those at more advanced stages; to identify distinguishing characteristics between premenopausal and postmenopausal women diagnosed with the same stage. POPULATION AND METHOD: 186 incident cases diagnosed with breast cancer were identified out of the 685 patients who were seen to in 2000-2001. The variables to be studied were obtained by means of a specific questionnaire which collected data concerning reproductive characteristics and contraceptive types. RESULTS: Significant differences in the mean age were found, since the early-stage group was younger (57.01+/-12.82 vs. 65.06+/-15.11). Characteristic factors found in pre-menopausal women were: early menopause, they either had no children or a single child, no breastfeeding practice and a more extensive use of contraceptives. Postmenopausal women presented more advanced stages, more pregnancies and less abortions. CONCLUSIONS: By taking the obtained results into consideration, it would be recommendable to bring forward the age at which women are to be included in early detection programmes, and to conduct a follow-up of those women who present such factors to favour an earlier diagnosis of the disease.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Postmenopause , Premenopause , Reproductive History , Abortion, Induced/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Breast Feeding , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Cohort Studies , Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal , Drug Utilization , Female , Humans , Menarche , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Parity , Pregnancy , Risk Factors , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
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Background. The objective of this study was twofold: to identify gynecological characteristics thatdistinguish women diagnosed with early-stagebreast cancer from those at more advanced stages;to identify distinguishing characteristics betweenpremenopasual and postmenopausal women diagnosedwith the same stage.Population and method. 186 incident cases diagnosedwith breast cancer were identified out of the685 patients who were seen to in 2000-2001. Thevariables to be studied were obtained by means of aspecific questionnaire which collected data concerningreproductive characteristics and contraceptivetypes.Results. Significant differences in the mean age werefound, since the early-stage group was younger(57.01 ± 12.82 vs. 65.06 ± 15.11). Characteristical factorsfound in pre-menopausal women were: earlymenopause, they either had no children or a singlechild, no breastfeeding practice and a more extensiveuse of contraceptives. Postmenopausal womenpresented more advanced stages, more pregnanciesand less abortions.Conclusions. By taking the obtained results intoconsideration, it would be recommendable to bringforward the age at which women are to be includedin early detection programmes, and to conduct afollow-up of those women who present such factorsto favour an earlier diagnosis of the disease
