Description
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Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women. There was an increasing trend of breast cancer incidence and mortality in Malaysia because of the increasing life-expectancy, unhealthy diet and life-styles and increasing prevalence of reproductive risk factors. This study was aimed to identify the profile and risk factors of breast cancer. A matched case-control study was carried out at hospitals in Kelantan. We interview 147 cases and 147 controls. The mean (SD) age of breast cancer patients was 46.3 (9.3) years. The most common histological type was infiltrative ductal carcinoma (73%). The presentation at stage III and VI was 60%. The profile of breast cancers in this study such as age and stage distributions was different from other western studies. Factors contributing towards increased risk of breast cancer were nulliparity, having one or two children, family history of breast cancer and ever taken oral contraceptives. This study reconfirmed that similar risk factors identified in western population were responsible for the occurrence of breast cancer in Kelantan. It also supported the theory that breast cancer occurrence was related to oestrogen exposure and familial factors.
(Author portrait)
Norsa'adah, BachokDr Bachok Norsa'adah (MBBS, MComMed, PhD) is a medical lecturerat the Unit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School ofMedical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
