Breast cancer in relation to some reproductive factors

Breast cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers in females in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In Egypt women's breast cancer had the highest frequency. The present study was conducted to study the association between breast cancer and some reproductive factors as well as to find out (if possible) predictors for occurrence of breast cancer. A hospital based case control study was carried out in Alexandria Main University Hospital where, 129 histopathologically confirmed incident primary breast cancer cases were included. An equal number of a control group matched by age were selected from the visitors of the same hospital. Data related to women's reproductive period were collected from both cases and controls. The results revealed that there was no statistically significant difference between cases and controls as regards menopausal status, menstruation span, number of births, spontaneous and induced abortion, twin birth, breast feeding and use of oral contraceptives. There was an increasing risk of breast cancer, with the presence of positive family history of breast cancer decreasing age at menarche, increasing age at first full-term pregnancy, widening of the interval between menarche and first full-term pregnancy, increasing age at last full-term pregnancy and shortening of the interval since last birth. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that positive family history of breast cancer, young age at menarche, late age at last full-term pregnancy and wide inter-birth interval were significant predictors for occurrence of breast cancer. The results of the study pinpoint that conduction of public health education programmes focusing on the modifiable risk factors are required.