Presentation of breast cancer in young women

Abstract

6608 Background: Current guidelines for early detection of breast cancer do not adequately address diagnosis in young women. Furthermore, a lower suspicion for malignancy in this population may cause diagnostic delays. It is unknown how much the lack of routine screening and potential diagnostic delays contribute to the poorer outcomes of younger women. Methods: We surveyed women age <40 with recently diagnosed breast cancer in a prospective multicenter cohort study started in late 2006. We evaluated initial sign/symptom of cancer, time to first seeking medical attention, time from seeking medical attention to diagnosis, and patient factors associated with delays of >30 days in either timeframe. Chi square and Fisher's Exact tests were used to compare those with and without delays. Results: The first 222 women enrolled in the cohort are included in this analysis. Median age at diagnosis was 36 years (range 17–40). 79% of women initially identified their cancers through breast self exam. Only 6% were initially identified by clinical breast exam, 14% by breast imaging, 1% by systemic symptoms. While the median time between initial sign and seeking medical attention was 10 days (range 0–3,600), 54 women had >30 days between initial sign and medical attention (median 102, range 44–3,600). Similarly, median time from seeking medical attention to diagnosis was 21 days (range 0–2,970), yet 59 women had >30 days from attention to diagnosis (median 70, range 33–2,970). Preliminary comparison of women with and without delays did not reveal significant differences in age, race, education, marital status, or gravidity. Analyses will be updated and psychosocial factors, tumor subtype, and stage at diagnosis will be evaluated. Conclusions: In this large modern cohort of young women with breast cancer, nearly 80% presented with a self-detected breast abnormality, and most were diagnosed soon after they developed a sign/symptom. However, nearly 25% delayed seeking medical attention and 25% experienced a delay in diagnosis after seeking medical attention. Further research is warranted to compare delays between younger and older women, to evaluate delays in more diverse populations, to explore predictors of delays, and to assess for prognostic implications of delays in order to improve outcomes in young women. No significant financial relationships to disclose.