Breast cancer in western region of Santa Catarina

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to determine the incidence and clinical/pathological profiles of breast cancer (BC) in the western region of Santa Catarina State/Brazil. Methods: A descriptive and observational study of the incidence, which analyzed all the new cases of BC diagnosed during the period from August 2009 to July 2010 attended the reference center of oncology of the western region of the Santa Catarina State/Brazil. Results: The incidence of BC in the western region of Santa Catarina State was 45 cases per 100,000 women, being higher in the regions of Xanxerê (64.1 cases/100,000 women) and Chapecó (51 cases/100,000 women). Most of these patients were female and caucasian (99.3% and 92.6%, respectively). The age ranged from 21 to 86 years old and the age group more affected were from 40 to 59 years old (51.2%). The left breast was more affected by cancer (53%), being the localization of the primary lesion most common in the upper-outter quadrant (32%). Regarding the histologic type of the tumor, 71.7% were invasive ductal cancer and 16.5% invasive lobular cancer. The majority of cases were diagnosed in stages I and II of the disease. Conclusion: The incidence of BC, at Referral Service for Oncologic Treatment in the western region of Santa Catarina State, was similar with the provided by “Instituto Nacional do Cancer – INCA” in 2010 for the south of Brazil. Most of the patients had a diagnosis at the early stages of the disease.