Table 2. Comparison of tumour assessment and characteristics of breast cancer patients aged <40 years before and after the increase began.
|
1995–2001
|
2002–2004
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patient and tumour characteristics | Number | (%) | Number | (%) | P-value for heterogeneity test |
| Age at diagnosis | |||||
| 25–29 years | 6 | (7) | 6 | (10) | 0.523 |
| 30–34 years | 32 | (35) | 17 | (27) | |
| 35–39 years | 54 | (59) | 40 | (64) | |
| Method of detection | |||||
| Screening | 8 | (9) | 12 | (19) | 0.168 |
| Breast self-examination | 66 | (72) | 40 | (64) | |
| Symptoms, other | 18 | (20) | 11 | (18) | |
| Diagnostic assessment | |||||
| Clinical statusa | 81 | (88) | 58 | (92) | 0.419 |
| Mammography or ultrasounda | 80 | (87) | 56 | (88) | 0.719 |
| MRIa | 24 | (26) | 30 | (48) | 0.006 |
| Family history | |||||
| Negative | 64 | (70) | 41 | (65) | 0.557 |
| Positive | 28 | (30) | 22 | (35) | |
| Stage | |||||
| I | 37 | (40) | 21 | (33) | 0.673 |
| II | 41 | (45) | 27 | (43) | |
| III | 7 | (8) | 9 | (14) | |
| IV | 4 | (4) | 3 | (5) | |
| Unknown | 3 | (3) | 3 | (5) | |
| Histology | |||||
| Ductal | 81 | (88) | 60 | (95) | 0.078 |
| Lobular | 0 | (0) | 1 | (2) | |
| Other | 11 | (12) | 2 | (3) | |
| Grade | |||||
| I | 15 | (16) | 8 | (13) | 0.217 |
| II | 33 | (36) | 33 | (52) | |
| III | 38 | (41) | 20 | (32) | |
| Unknown | 6 | (7) | 2 | (3) | |
| Oestrogen receptor status | |||||
| Negative | 33 | (36) | 18 | (29) | 0.630 |
| Positive | 56 | (61) | 43 | (68) | |
| Unknown | 3 | (3) | 2 | (3) | |
| Progesterone receptor status | |||||
| Negative | 37 | (40) | 25 | (40) | 0.997 |
| Positive | 52 | (57) | 36 | (57) | |
| Unknown | 3 | (3) | 2 | (3) | |
| Total | 92 | (100) | 63 | (100) | |
MRI=magnetic resonance imaging.
a
Binary variables classified as yes vs no.