Reproductive Risk Factor Patterns in Caribbean Women With Breast Cancer Across 4 Generations

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Breast cancer (BC) is a significant health concern for Caribbean women.
• Reproductive patterns are known to influence BC incidence and age at diagnosis.
• Reproductive patterns in Caribbean women are understudied, necessitating focused research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate temporal trends in reproductive patterns among Caribbean-born women.
• To examine changes in age at breast cancer diagnosis across different birth cohorts.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional observational study, the Caribbean Women's Cancer Study, was conducted.
• Data were collected from women born in Caribbean countries diagnosed with invasive BC or ovarian cancer between 2010 and 2018.
• Participants were divided into four birth cohorts (pre-1950, 1950-1959, 1960-1969, 1970+).

Main Results:

• Younger birth cohorts showed a higher proportion of women with menarche at age 12 or younger, no pregnancies, and nulliparity.
• Earlier BC diagnosis was associated with menarche at age 12 or younger and nulliparity.
• Delayed first pregnancy increased the likelihood of estrogen receptor-positive tumors (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08).

Conclusions:

• Shifting reproductive patterns, including earlier menarche and fewer pregnancies, are observed in successive birth cohorts of Caribbean women with BC.
• These changes correlate with younger age at BC diagnosis and specific tumor characteristics.
• Interventions addressing evolving BC risk factors are crucial for this population.