MORTALITY FROM BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN BELOW 40 YEARS OLD

Abstract

This is a descriptive documental study aiming to investigate the epidemiological profile of the deaths which occurred among women aged below 40 years old, diagnosed with breast cancer. Data collection was undertaken in the Hospital Records (Cancer) Service of the Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil, including information recorded between January 2003 and December 2011. A total of 638 notifications of breast cancer were identified, of which 68 were of women aged below 40 years old, of whom 21 died. It was ascertained that the survival was, on average, of 40 months; and that 76.2% were at advanced stages (III or IV). It is emphasized that screening for breast cancer in women at high risk allows the detection of tumors at earlier stages, reducing the incidence in the number of deaths and improving the health indicators.

Keywords

• Breast neoplasias
• Hospital records
• Nursing