Clinical evolution and treatment of breast cancer in young women

Abstract

Introduction. Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide, with nearly 1.7 million new cases diagnosed annually (25% of the total) and 571,000 deaths. In Europe, breast cancer accounts for the highest share (26.4%) of all cancers in women, with 522,513 new cases, far above colon cancer (11.5%; 228,067 new cases) and lung cancer (8%; 158,196 new cases). The incidence of breast cancer in Moldova in 2018 was 1125, and the morbidity was 360.6 per 100 thousand population. Aim of the study. This study aims to analyze the clinical evolution and treatment of breast cancer at different stages in young women. Materials and methods.. The study is based on a retrospective descriptive analysis carried out for about 3 years. The group included 63 patients, all women between the ages of 24 and 45, diagnosed with breast cancer at various stages. Clinical evolution, stage, tumor size, preoperative treatment and surgical method were evaluated. Results. We found that of 63 patients, 61 had clinical symptoms, while 2 patients were diagnosed during screening. The complaints of the patients included palpation of a hard, immobile, painless tumor of irregular outline – 50 cases (82%); breast swelling – 8 cases (13%); nipple leaks – 2 cases (3%), pain – 1 case (2%). Tumor sizes ranged from 1.0 cm to 5.5 cm. Thirty-eight patients had tumors smaller than 2 cm, 24 patients had tumors with sizes between 2 and 5 cm and 1 patient had tumor of 5.5 cm. There were diagnosed 3 patients (5%) with stage I; 13 patients (21%) with stage IIA; 39 patients (62%) with stage IIB; 4 patients (6%) with stage IIIA; 4 patients (6%) with stage IIIB. Out of 63 patients, 42 patients (67%) received preoperative treatment: chemotherapy – 39 patients (61.9%), radiotherapy – 3 patients (4.7%). Of the patients receiving chemotherapy, 5 patients took 2 courses, 16 patients – 3 courses, 14 patients – 4 courses, 2 patients – 6 courses, 2 patients – 8 courses. Surgical treatment of malignancies was performed by two methods: single mastectomy – 18 malignant tumors (28.5%), Madden radical mastectomy – 45 malignant tumors (71.5%). Conclusions. We found that of 63 patients, 61 had clinical symptoms, while 2 patients were diagnosed during screening. The complaints of the patients included palpation of a hard, immobile, painless tumor of irregular outline – 50 cases (82%); breast swelling – 8 cases (13%); nipple leaks – 2 cases (3%), pain – 1 case (2%). Tumor sizes ranged from 1.0 cm to 5.5 cm. Thirty-eight patients had tumors smaller than 2 cm, 24 patients had tumors with sizes between 2 and 5 cm and 1 patient had tumor of 5.5 cm. There were diagnosed 3 patients (5%) with stage I; 13 patients (21%) with stage IIA; 39 patients (62%) with stage IIB; 4 patients (6%) with stage IIIA; 4 patients (6%) with stage IIIB. Out of 63 patients, 42 patients (67%) received preoperative treatment: chemotherapy – 39 patients (61.9%), radiotherapy – 3 patients (4.7%). Of the patients receiving chemotherapy, 5 patients took 2 courses, 16 patients – 3 courses, 14 patients – 4 courses, 2 patients – 6 courses, 2 patients – 8 courses. Surgical treatment of malignancies was performed by two methods: single mastectomy – 18 malignant tumors (28.5%), Madden radical mastectomy – 45 malignant tumors (71.5%).