Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the diseases in which abnormal, mutated breast cells grow out of control and form tumors. If left unchecked, the tumors can spread throughout the body and become fatal. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study is aimed at assessing the combined effect of age-specific trends over time on breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross-sectional study included 100 patients diagnosed with breast cancer over a period extending from January 2024 to January 2025 at Al-Amal Hospital in Baghdad. The data were collected from the records of the hospital, including the demographic ones, and another section of the data included the medical ones. RESULTS: A total of 100 breast cancer patients were included in this study, with ages ranging from 25 to 75 years (mean ± SD : 50.47 ± 10.96 years). The highest percentage of breast cancer patients (39%) belonged to the 50-59 years age group, followed by 40-49 years (25%), while the lowest percentages were observed in the 21-29 years (5%) and 70-79 years (5%) categories. Menstrual history illustrated that 52% of patients were postmenopausal, while 44% were premenopausal, and 4% had irregular cycles. Most cancer patients were married (78%), while 11% were widowed, 8% were single, and 3% were divorced. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the demographic and clinical characteristics of breast cancer patients, emphasizing the predominance of cases in postmenopausal women and those residing in urban areas. It highlights the prevalence of advanced-stage and metastatic breast cancer, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced screening and early detection.