Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women globally with an estimated 2.3 million new cases in 2020. In Nigeria, it constitutes about 12% of all new cancers and 25% of all cancers in women. The risk factors of breast cancer include both non-modifiable and modifiable factors. There are clinical and biological differences between patients with pre-menopausal and post-menopausal breast cancer. This study aims to evaluate the differences in risk factors, disease presentation and tumour characteristics between premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients. METHODOLOGY: This is a 2-year prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between 1(st) January 2021 and 31(st) December 2022. All consecutive patients who presented with breast cancer that was histologically confirmed and gave informed consent were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups which are pre-menopausal and post-menopausal based on their menopausal status. Relevant data were extracted and recorded in a data extraction form. Analysis was done using Statistical Product and Service Solution version 26. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-three patients were recruited for the study. Seventy (52.6%) of them were pre-menopausal and 63 (47.4%) were post-menopausal. Their ages were from 19 to 78 with a mean of 46.94 ± 11.93. The peak age was 41-50 years and 30.8% of the patients were within this age range. Only late age at first pregnancy was significantly associated with pre-menopausal breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Similar risk factors and tumour characteristics with a higher prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer were found in both groups but late age at first pregnancy occurred significantly in pre-menopausal breast cancer patients.