Breast cancer in young women in southern Tunisia: Anatomical study and clinical prognostic factors: About a series of 83 patients

Abstract Purpose To define epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic factors influencing survival of breast cancer in young women younger than 35 in southern Tunisia. Material and methods This is a retrospective study of 83 patients younger than 35 years and treated within tumors mammary committee of Sfax. Results The mean age was 31.7 years. T2 stage, high grade with positive node tumors were frequent. Breast surgery was performed for 73 patients. Chemotherapy was neo-adjuvant, adjuvant and palliative for respectively 10, 62 and 13 patients. Radiotherapy was delivered for 65 patients with curative intent and for 8 metastatic patients. Endocrine therapy was adjuvant in 38 patients and palliative in 6 cases. The overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 66.8%. Pejorative prognostic factors in uni-variate analysis were clinical T stage (T3, T4), and the number of involved lymph nodes. Conclusion Despite adequate treatment, the prognosis of breast cancer in young women remains worse. Early diagnosis is necessary to promote outcome.