Characterization of patients with breast cancer attended at Bertha Calderon Roque Hospital, Managua-Nicaragua.

Abstract

Treatment and prevention of breast cancer requires knowledge about epidemiology, histological and immunohistochemical characteristics, specific to each population. In Nicaragua, as well as in the rest of Latin American countries, this knowledge is scarce and fragmented.

This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study that aims to reduce the knowledge gap about breast cancer in Nicaragua. For this study, 308 of  504 women diagnosed with breast cancer were included.

The age at the time of diagnosis was 51 ± 12 years, 74% came from urban areas, 14,6% had technical or university training, 30,8% attended secondary education, 42,2% attended primary education and 12,3% are illiterate. 91,2% had a salary of C$7000 or less, 37% were diagnosed at age 45 or earlier, 48,4% were diagnosed with stage III and IV breast cáncer. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma predominated with 89% and Luminal B with 48,7%.

The patients in this study declared, use of hormonal contraceptives 59,1%, exposure to wood smoke and / or oil 93,5%, and family history of breast cancer 28,2%.

These patients come mostly from urban areas, they are diagnosed at an earlier age and in advanced stages. They are vulnerable patients with low income and low education. As in the rest of the world, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma predominates in this sample, intrinsic molecular type Luminal B. 

Keywords: Breast cancer, Risk factor, Histology, Intrinsic molecular type.