Relationship between risk factors and tumor stage in breast cancer patients in a university hospital--Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the relationship between clinical variables and tumor stage in breast cancer.


METHODS
This retrospective study (1998 to 2001) analyzed data of 176 women with breast cancer attending a university hospital. Patients were divided into groups according to the clinicopathological variables studied.


RESULTS
The disease had a similar frequency at age under 50 years (44.3%) or above (55.7%) 50 years. Stage II was more frequent. Most patients were white (69.9%), non-smokers (69.3%) and were not using oral contraceptives (71%). Stages 0-II were mainly detected in the white (74.8%) vs non-white (60.4%) group. Monthly breast self-exams were performed by 62.5% of women, in which earlier stages (0, I) were more frequently detected than in those who did not perform self-exams (27.3% vs 12.1%, p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Breast cancer occurred mainly in white women in Stage II, and with similar frequency at age under or over 50 years. Breast self-exam was associated with early detection of the disease.
Mendonça
M A O
MA
Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Tavares-Murta
B M
BM
Bachin
E S
ES
Davi
L B
LB
Murta
E F C
EF
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D015331:Cohort Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People