Carcinoma of the female breast in Jamaica

The incidence of breast cancer in Jamaican women is intermediate between the low levels of African countries and the high levels of USA, UK, and other Western industrial societies. The annual incidence in Jamaica has shown an upward trend from 1958 to 1974. Compared with Uganda, breast cancer in Jamaica conforms to a "westernized" pattern with regard to shape of the age-specific incidence curve and stage of presentation. There are no obvious histological differences between breast cancer in Uganda, USA and Jamaica. The incidence of breast cancer in Jamaica appears disproportionately high in view of the high proportion of early pregnancies occurring in Jamaican women.