[Hormone risk factors during breast tumoral promotion, progression and prognosis]

Several hormonal factors, as menstrual irregularities, early ovarian maturation and long estrogen stimulation during women's reproductive life, have been pointed out as risk factors in the breast cancer promotion.

To study the various involved factors during breast cancer evolution.

Hormonal and reproductive factors were studied in 200 women with breast cancer. The greater incidence was showed in postmenopausal patients (118 patients).

Nulliparity was presented in 29% of the patients, while late menopause and early menarche were presented in 25 and 8%, respectively. Having the first child at age > 30 years and family history of breast cancer (8.5%) were risk factors presented in 40% of the patients. Thirty percent of the patients showed low risk factors such as: high parity (26%), low parity (15%) and first child at age < 20 years. On the other hand, the left mammary gland was the most affected. The lesion was mainly situated in the upper-outer quadrant and upper-inside quadrant (36 and 26% in 72 and 52 patients, respectively). The decade of highest incidence was 40 to 50 years. During the first six months, 60% of the patients showed tumour progression.

Nulliparity, late menopause, early menarche, first child at age > 30 years and family history of breast cancer are risk factors for serious breast cancer prognostic.