BACKGROUND: One in eight women has risk to developing breast cancer in long life (12.2%) one out of each 28 is in risk of death by this disease. The most recognized risk factors are hormonals, genetics and environmentals. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of risk factors for breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ambulatory Care Medical Unit 231, IMSS, in the medical records of 272 breast cancer patients in order to identify the major risk factors. RESULTS: 272 patients were studied, out of which 63 (23.1%) had no risk factor; 174 (64%) had 1 to 2 factors, 35 (12.9%) had 3 to 4 factors. The most common age group was 50-59 years. 80 women were menopausal, 28 (35%) had > 54 years, obesity was present in 35% of postmenopausal patients; with 29.8% of smokers, 16.9% had pregnancies long term > 30 years old. 14.3% were diabetics prior to breast cancer, and 12.2% had used exogenous hormones for > 5 years, 10.7% had experienced menarche < 11 years. Family background in first degree was 6.6% and for another cancer 32.4%. The detection by self examination was 91.5% and 1.1% by mastography. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent risk factors included: overweight, obesity, smoking, exogenous hormones and pregnancy long term > 30 years. The method most frequently used for detection was self examination.
BACKGROUND: One in eight women has risk to developing breast cancer in long life (12.2%) one out of each 28 is in risk of death by this disease. The most recognized risk factors are hormonals, genetics and environmentals. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of risk factors for breast cancerpatients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ambulatory Care Medical Unit 231, IMSS, in the medical records of 272 breast cancerpatients in order to identify the major risk factors. RESULTS: 272 patients were studied, out of which 63 (23.1%) had no risk factor; 174 (64%) had 1 to 2 factors, 35 (12.9%) had 3 to 4 factors. The most common age group was 50-59 years. 80 women were menopausal, 28 (35%) had > 54 years, obesity was present in 35% of postmenopausal patients; with 29.8% of smokers, 16.9% had pregnancies long term > 30 years old. 14.3% were diabetics prior to breast cancer, and 12.2% had used exogenous hormones for > 5 years, 10.7% had experienced menarche < 11 years. Family background in first degree was 6.6% and for another cancer 32.4%. The detection by self examination was 91.5% and 1.1% by mastography. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent risk factors included: overweight, obesity, smoking, exogenous hormones and pregnancy long term > 30 years. The method most frequently used for detection was self examination.