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Epidemiology of Breast
Cancer in Qatar 1999-2000
Bujassoum S.M.
Hematology/Oncology Section, Department
of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation
Doha, Qatar
  Abstract:
This is
retrospective study of breast cancer in Qatar
during period 1999-2002, using cancer registry
data.
A total 214
patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, with
incidence of 5/10,000 of population per year;
accounting for13.3%of new cancer cases and
29.9%of all female cancer. Male breast cancer is
rare accounting for 3.2% of total number. Qatari
patients were 23%and non-Qatari patients were
36.2%. The disease more common in ages between
46-55 years old accounting for 64%of total
breast cancer, patients usually presented beyond
or equal to stage II and with distant metastasis
in 7% of cases, patients commonly present with
invasive ductal carcinoma and histological grade
2and 3,it has been noticed that were decrease in
incidence of stage III and IV and increase in
stage I and II which reflect improvement in
patient awareness of this problem.
 Introduction:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in
Qatar; improve awareness on the part of both
women and health care provider more cancers
cases can be diagnosed in early stages, and
early initiation of treatment can be started,
which will lead to improve survival
Patients and Method:
It is retrospective study of breast cancer in
Qatar during period 1999-2002, using cancer
registry data
Result:
There are 214 patients identified. Breast
cancer is the most common malignancy in Qatar.
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Figure
2: Leading Malignancies in
Qatar by Nationality during the
period 1999-2002
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Incidence of 5/10,000 of population per year,
accounting for 13.3 % of new cancer cases.
Considered as the most common malignancies in
female patients accounting for 29.9%, 36.2%were
non Qatari patients, 23% were female Qatari
patients.
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Figure
3: Leading Malignancies in
Qatar among Females during the
period 1999-2002
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It affects 3.2% male patients.
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Figure
5: Total Number of Breast
Cancer Cases in Qatar by Gender
during the period 1999-2002
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More common in younger age group, 64 % between
ages (45-55 years old) and 22.5% below the age
of 45.
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Figure
4: Breast Cancer Cases in
Qatar by Age Group during the period
1999-2002
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Mostly diagnosed at stage II accounting for
60%of all stages, there were noticeable decrease
of stage III and IV over the last two
years.
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Figure
8: TNM Stage Groupings of
Breast Cancer Cases in
Qatar by Age Group during the period
1999-2002
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Early diagnosis of breast cancer is more obvious
if we compare our results with previous data
during period 1990-1998
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Figure
9: Distribution of Breast
Cancer Cases according to
TNM Stages during the period
1999-2002
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Figure 10: Distribution of
Breast Cancer Cases according
to TNM Stages during the period
1990-1998
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Most of breast cancer diagnosed in Qatar had
histological grade II and III and have invasive
ductal carcinoma subtype.
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Figure 7: Distribution of
Breast Cancer Cases according to
Grade during the period 1999-2002
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Figure 6: Breast Cancer Cases
by Behavior during the period
1999-2002
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Although the breast cancer is the commonest
malignancies it is not the leading cause of
death accounting for 4.3%of total death among
cancers cases.
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Figure 13: Leading Deaths
among Cancer Patients according to
Cause of Death during the period
1999-2002
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During the study period it has been noticed
there were decrease in mortality both in Qatari
and non Qatari.
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Figure 14: Deaths among Breast
Cancer Cases in Qatar by
Nationality during the period
1999-2002
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Figure 15: Mortality Rate
among Breast Cancer Cases
during 1999-2002
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Conclusion:
Breast cancer in Qatar present more common in
young age group than international figure
however age adjusted study need to be done to
confirmed this observation, and presented beyond
stage0, I, however over the last two year there
were increase diagnosis of stage II and decrease
in stage III, IV and trend toward improved
survival, which can be explained by diagnoses of
breast cancer at early stages of initial
presentation
Early detection of breast cancer could reflex
the effectiveness of health education and
population awareness of the problem over the
last year.
Almost absence of DCIS and decreases cases in
stage I can be attributed to absences of
screening program.
Recommendation:
To improved
survival:
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Organized
public and health care provider education should
be under taken.
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Design
suitable population based screening program for
age’s group between (40-55) with corporation of
the following:
1. Breast self
exam
2. Mammography &
breast US
3. MRI
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Encourage
Multidisciplinary approach for diagnosis and
treatment of breast cancer patients.
•
Advocate
retrospective and prospective study to identify
risk factors and prognostic factors that affect
survival.
Reference:
1. Cancer registry data
Hematology/Oncology Section, Department of
Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation. |
