CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CARCINOMA BREAST AMONG WOMEN IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS OF SOUTHERN KARNATAKA: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

In today’s world, one of the most common cancers in women is breast cancer (CABr) and is the second leading type of cancer seen in women in India. It is associated with various clinical outcomes depending on the time of diagnosis, staging, and type of response to the given treatment. It is also influenced by several factors like Diabetes Mellitus, hypertension, and hormone-related medications, in addition to genetic and familial factors. We intended to study the clinical and epidemiological profile of CABr patients seeking health care in tertiary care hospitals of Mangaluru, in South Karnataka, India. This hospital-based retrospective study was carried out among 56 women diagnosed with CABr. Data was collected using a pretested proforma, which included their demographic details and lifestyle factors. Women with CABr were in an age range of 51–70 years. 37.5% of women were unemployed, and 12.5% of these women were found to be illiterate. 64.3% reported adhering to a mixed diet, and 12.5% of women with CABr were involved in smoking. 30.4% were found to be diabetic. The present study brought out the baseline characteristics of CABr and its association with factors like diabetes mellitus and substance abuse.