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Abstract
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic factors affect the
incidence, clinical progress, and prognosis of patients
with breast cancer. The aim of the study is to
investigate the effect of socioeconomic factors on the
prognosis of women with breast cancer at the age of
forty years or younger.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 873 breast
cancer patients were included in the study. Of these
patients, 30.4% were below or at 40 years of age
(n=265). Patients’ clinicopathologic features and
socioeconomic status (SES) were recorded. Effects of
SES on clinicopathologic features were analyzed using
qhi-square test. Kaplan-Meier Log Rank test was used
for comparison of survival time.
RESULTS: Thirty percent of the patients (n=265) was
at 40 years of age or younger. Median age of the
patients below and over 40 years was 35 (20-40) and
52 (41-85) years, respectively. Invasive ductal
carcinoma rate was found higher in younger patients
with lower SES. The rate of larger tumors (>5 cm) in
younger patients with lower SES was found
significantly higher. Although the rate of ER and PR
negative tumors was found higher (p<0.04), hormone receptor status was not found affected by SES in
younger patients. Median survival time for younger
patients with lower and higher SES was found 73 and
116 months, respectively (p=0.035).
CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors affect the
tumor biology and clinical progress of breast cancer
patients in all groups of age. Decreased overall
survival among young patients with lower SES may be
related to late diagnosis and/or difficulties in accessing
treatment in addition to presence of unfavorable
prognostic factors