Breast cancer in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: A retrospective analysis

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in India among women. This study was conducted to describe the demographic, clinical, histopathological, endocrinological and survival pattern of breast cancer patients in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The study was done in Medical Oncology department of GB pant hospital. Data was retrieved from the case sheets of patients who consulted from 1st February 2015 to 31st January 2018. As this hospital is the only referral hospital, the patients are representative of all cancer patients in the Island, and the population base is well defined.

During the study period, 85 breast cancer patients were treated. Of the 82 female patients, the standardized incidence rates in 2015, 2016 and 2017 were 8.82, 13 and 14.42 per 100,000 women respectively. The prevalence and mortality rates in 2015, 2016, 2017 were 14.88, 27.96, 40.37, and 1.1, 2.74, 0.55 per 100,000 women respectively. Metastasis was detected at the time of diagnosis in 18.8% of patients. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) positivity was reported in 55.9% of patients, HER 2 positivity in 28.1% and triple negativity in 27.3%. The overall survival at 12, 24, and 36 months follow-up were 88.9%, 84.3% and 52.7% respectively. In univariable analysis, the hazard ratios were significantly higher for patients with metastasis and diagnosis before 2015.

As compared to the country, breast cancer incidence was lower in the Islands with better survival. Stage at diagnosis was the most important factor determining survival in these patients.