Breast cancer in women younger than 35 years : features and outcomes in the breast unit at Aristide le Dantec Teaching Hospital, Dakar

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical features and outcomes of women younger than 35 years with breast cancer. Methods: This study was performed at Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic of Dakar Teaching Hospital and retrospectively reviewed the records of all women younger than 35 years seen in our department for histologically proven breast cancer. Data were analyzed with SPSS software (Statistical Package for Social Science) Version 23. Results: Between 2007 and 2015, 62 women with breast cancer met the inclusion criteria and were included. The incidence of women in this age group treated in our department was 22.6%. The median age at diagnosis was 29.7 years. The mean time to consultation was 12.5 months, and the disease was locally advanced at diagnosis in 79% of cases. Histological study found 85.5% of cancers were invasive ductal carcinoma. The immunohistochemical study found positive hormone receptors in 12 women (19.4%) and overexpression of HER-2 in 8 (12.9%). Chemotherapy was performed in 54 patients (87.1%), and surgery in 47 (62.9%). Recurrence occurred in 12. In all, 22 women died (35.5%) by the end of the study period. Mean survival was 36.7 months (CI 29.5 to 43.9) and median survival 39.7 months (CI 22.1 to 57.5). Conclusion: This high incidence rate in our study is consistent with that found in young African-American women and is worrisome. These results seem to point towards a genetic origin and call for a thorough search of the profile. They also call also for the involvement of pathologists and collaboration with other research teams.