Female breast cancer: clinical and pathological aspects of cases registered between 2005 and 2008 at a public oncology service in the Brazilian State of Sergipe

Objectives: to discover the clinical and pathologic aspects of cases of female breast cancer registered at a public oncology service in Sergipe. Methods: an attempt was made to associate the stage with the characteristics of the tumors. Data was gathered from 165 medical records taken between 2005 and 2008 at the oncology outpatients clinic of the Hospital Cirurgia, in the city of Aracaju, Sergipe, using a data collection form in 2009. Results: ductal invasive carcinoma was identified as the most frequent kind of neoplasia, accounting for 80.8% of cases. Seventy-six (46.1%) of neoplasias were identified at an advanced stage (IIB, III and IV) and mastectomy was the main kind of surgery used, irrespective of the stage of the cancer. All the hormone receptors were associated with the stage and it was noted that positive estrogen and progesterone levels were associated with a more positive prognosis. Conclusions: it is worth noting that the cases of breast cancer studied were those that are more biologically aggressive with a less promising prognosis in terms of clinical stage. Action to ensure early detection of breast cancer needs to be taken in the course of basic care in Sergipe in order to reduce morbidity and mortality and to improve the survival rates and quality of life of women afflicted with this kind of neoplasia. Adapted from the source document.