CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS IN YOUNGER VERSUS OLDER AGE GROUPS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTER: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
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Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide and in India. Younger women are often reported to present with more aggressive disease characteristics and worse prognostic factors.
Objectives
This study aims to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of breast cancer in younger women (≤40 years) versus older women (>40 years) at a tertiary care center in India.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of 784 breast cancer patients treated between January 2018 and December 2024. Patients were categorized into two groups based on age and compared for clinicopathological features, including stage, receptor status, histological type, and treatment patterns.
Results
Of the total patients, 161 (20.53%) were ≤40 years old, with a median age of 36 years, while 623 were >40 years with a median age of 52 years. Younger patients had a higher incidence of advanced stage at presentation (stage II & III: 70.80% vs. 66.45%) and higher rates of PR positivity (51% vs. 43.33%). The HER2 negative expression rate was slightly higher in younger patients. A significant proportion of younger women also had triple-negative breast cancer.
Conclusion
Breast cancer in young Indian women demonstrates distinct clinicopathological features, including higher tumour stage and more aggressive biological behaviour. Awareness of these characteristics is essential for early diagnosis and tailoring of treatment strategies to improve outcomes in this population.
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Astha Parmar
Senior Resident, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore
Hemendra Mishra
Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.
Rajesh Patidar
Professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.
Vikas Asati
Professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.
Arth Shah
Senior Resident, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore
Anirudh Singh
Senior Resident, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.
Archit Jain
Senior Resident, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.
Prakash Chitalkar
Professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.