title: Early data from the first population-wide breast cancer-specific registry in Hong Kong.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current measures for breast cancer prevention and options for treatment adopted in Hong Kong are mainly based on research data and clinical evidence from overseas. It is essential to establish a cancer-specific registry to monitor the status of breast cancer in Hong Kong.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We summarized the current status of breast cancer in Hong Kong based on the data collected from Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry (HKBCR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalent and newly diagnosed breast cancers (including in situ and invasive breast cancers) were registered in the HKBCR. Information on patient demographics, risk factors, medical information, and survival were analyzed and reported in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of 2,330 breast cancer patients were analyzed. We observed an earlier median age at diagnosis in Hong Kong than those reported in other countries. Distribution of cancer stage was: stage 0 (11.4%), stage I (31.4%), stage II (41%), stage III (12.5%), stage IV (0.8%), and unclassified (2.9%). The percentages of patients who received surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and endocrine therapy were 98.7, 67.9, 64.8, and 64.1%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 1.2 years, locoregional recurrence was recorded at 2%, distant recurrence at 2.8%, and breast-cancer-related mortality at 0.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HKBCR serves as a surveillance program to monitor disease and treatment patterns. It is pivotal to support research for more effective breast cancer prevention and treatment strategies in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, 22/F, Jupiter Tower, No. 9, Jupiter Street North Point, Hong Kong, China. pollycheung@hkbcf.org
authors.forename: Polly
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sharon W W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: Emily Y Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Stephen C K
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kwan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries