Breast cancer in very young women: Our experience

Breast cancer in young women represents a unique group because of age, diagnosis, tumor behavior, associated infertility, and prognosis. We conducted a retrospective study between 1995 and 2012 in 1392 women diagnosed with breast cancer in our center. We selected 56 women (4.02%) whose age at diagnosis was <35 years. Several variables, such as epidemiological data, diagnostic methods, the surgical approach, histological results, and the survival rate were studied. The statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS 15.0 software. The mean age was 31.83 + 2.92 (24-35) years. A family history of breast cancer was found in 11 (19.62%) patients. One patient had previously had ovarian cancer (1.78%). Twenty-four women (42.85%) were nulliparous and 5 (8.92%) became pregnant after diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer. Clinical findings consisted ofthe presence of nodules in 49 (87.5%). Breast ultrasound was indicated as the first imaging method in 35 (62.5%) women. Treatment consisted of neoadjuvant therapy in 6 (10.70%) patients. Surgical treatment was indicated initially in 49 (87.5%). Conservative surgery was performed in 23 (41.07%). The most common histological type was infiltrating ductal carcinoma in 41 (73.2%). A total of 31 (55.35%) patients are still alive and in complete remission. The treatment of breast cancer in young patients should be individualized. Whenever possible, conservative surgery should be performed (evaluating neoadjuvant chemotherapy to reduce tumor size), as well as oncoplastic surgery, as they can help improve quality of life without impairing survival in these patients. (C) 2015 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.