BREAST CANCER IN YOUNG MOROCCAN WOMEN UNDER AGE OF 40 YEARS, A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Purpose: This study aimed at evaluating the epidemiological, clinical, pathological and therapeutic characteristics of breast cancer in young Moroccan women. Patients and methods: About 60 cases of breast cancer in young women under the age of forty, haves been admitted at the radiation service of the military hospital Mohammed V of Rabat for the period starting from 01 January 2010 and ending at 31 December 2015. Results: The frequency of breast cancer in young women who were under 40 years old was about 18.5%. The average age was 35 years. About 25% of theme had a family history of breast cancer. Tumors classified T2 were the most frequent (numerically 45%), followed by T1 tumors (31.7%). N0 forms were the most common (76.6%) followed by N1 forms (18.3%). Regarding anatomopathological aspect, the invasive ductal carcinoma has been the most frequently, noticed in 90.1%, SBR II in 57% and SBR III in 34%. Hormone receptors were positive in 66.6% of cases and HER2 over-expressed in 35% of cases. In regard to therapeutic plan, all patients had undergone surgical treatment, which was identified as radical in about 66.7% of cases and conservative in 33.3%. The radiotherapy has been delivered to 59 patients and the chemotherapy has been prescribed for 57 patients. The hormonotherapy has been prescribed for 40 patients and monoclonal antibody trastuzumab for only 19 patients. The overall 3-years survival rate was found to be 92.1%. Conclusion: The incidence of breast cancer in young Moroccan women is so high; this could be explained by the existence of familial medical history and genetic forms. Our study confirms the data found in the literature advocating more advanced forms and worse prognosis of breast cancer in young patients. An improvement of this prognosis could be obtained after the implementation of a cancer screening program, in young women having a potential risk factor to suffer a breast cancer, followed by a well-adapted medical care taking into account the known prognostic factors.