BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN OF ERBIL.IRAQ'S KURDISTAN REGION.

Background and objectives:-The incidence of breast cancer is increasing and considered as the top cancer in women in both of the developed and the developing world. Study of the incidence and early detection are necessary for breast cancer control. In this study we assessed the incidence and the risk factors of breast cancer among females. Methods:- A retrospective study in a descriptive and analytic design based on findings from the statistical department of Erbil Directorate of Health. The database was prepared by our research partner and used by specialized physicians in surgery who had interviewed 549 women with breast cancer from the period between 1st of January 2009 to 31st of December 2009. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used through the Microsoft Access Database and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 21). Bivariate correlations were used for data analysis. The P value of ? 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results:- The mean (±SD) age of the 549 studied women was 32.71 ± 10.64 years ranging from 13 to 73 years. The most registered age group 201 (36.6%) by breast cancer was between 21 to 30 years old females. The peak incidence 37 (6.7%) of the disease was at the age 40 years. The least 5 (0.9%) registered age group was more than 60 years. The majority 465 (84.7%) of the patients were housewives. More than one third 40 (7.21%) of them were cigarette smokers. About one third 193 (35.2%) were nulliparousfemales. The least number [3 (0.5%), 1 (0.2%)] of registered women by breast cancer were in the groups of Para 13 and 15 respectively. One quarter 142 (25.88%) of the patients were using contraceptive pills. Two thirds 66 (12.05%) had breast cancer in their family histories. About one quarter 151 (27.51%) of the study sample had breastfed their children. Conclusions:-Breast cancer incidence was higher among the registered young females than older ages with exception to the age 40 which recorded the highest incidence of the disease. The disease was very rare among Para 13 and 15 women. Being housewife, cigarette smoking, nulliparity, using oral contraceptive pills, and presence of breast cancer in the family history among the studied women can be considered as risk factors for breast cancer. Conduction of further studies about breast cancer and establishment of a Breast Cancer Research Center in Erbil City are recommended.