The incidence rate of female breast cancer in Saudi Arabia: an observational descriptive epidemiological analysis of data from Saudi Cancer Registry 2001–2008

Abstract

BackgroundThis study presents descriptive epidemiological data related to breast cancer cases diagnosed from 2001 to 2008 among Saudi women, including the frequency and percentage of cases, the crude incidence rate (CIR), and the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), adjusted by the region and year of diagnosis.MethodsThis is a retrospective descriptive epidemiological study of all Saudi female breast cancer cases from 2001 to 2008. The statistical analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics, a linear regression model, and analysis of variance with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20.0.ResultsA total of 6,922 female breast cancer cases were recorded in the Saudi Cancer Registry from 2001 to 2008. The highest overall percentages (38.6% and 31.2%) of female breast cancer cases were documented in women who were 30–44 and 45–59 years of age, respectively. The eastern region of Saudi Arabia had the highest overall ASIR, at 26.6 per 100,000 women, followed by Riyadh at 20.5 and Makkah at 19.4. Jazan, Baha, and Asir had the lowest average ASIRs, at 4.8, 6.1, and 7.3 per 100,000 women, respectively. The region of Jouf (24.2%; CIR 11.2, ASIR 17.2) had the highest changes in CIR and ASIR from 2001 to 2008. While Qassim, Jazan, and Tabuk recorded down-trending rates with negative values.ConclusionThere was a significant increase in the CIRs and ASIRs for female breast cancer between 2001 and 2008. The majority of breast cancer cases occurred among younger women. The region of Jouf had the greatest significant differences of CIR and ASIR during 2001 to 2008. Jazan, Baha, and Najran had the lowest average CIRs and ASIRs of female breast cancer, whereas the linear trend upward is a concern in certain regions, such as the eastern region, Makkah, and Riyadh. However, further analytical epidemiological research is needed to identify the potential risk factors involved in the increase in the prevalence of breast cancer among Saudi women.

Age distribution and outcomes in patients undergoing breast cancer resection in Saudi Arabia

“…The low percentage of local disease in our study might explain the high proportion of patients (84%) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Similarly, stage I disease accounts for only a limited number of cases in other studies from our region, with the highest reported percentage being 23%, compared with 60% in developed countries 5,15. Young age at presentation and tumor size might significantly influence the design of national screening programs.…”

“…For example, the average patient age in Sweden is 60 years and Mexico 50 years, representing a 10-year difference 20. Our study population had a predominance of young patients (61.7% of patients were younger than 50 years), which is expected for this region; the average age in previous studies ranged between 40 and 45 years 3,5. Adami et al analyzed the relationship between age at diagnosis and relative survival in 57,068 Swedish women 21.…”

In vitro analysis of the anticancer properties of scorpion venom in colorectal and breast cancer cell lines

“…A similar study conducted by Alghamdi et al (21) between 2001 and 2008 reported a significant increase in female breast cancer, particularly among young women, in Saudi Arabia. The above study also specified the geographical locations of the prevailing disease, and identified that the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia presented a linear upward trend in the occurrence of breast cancer, compared with Southern areas of the country, including Jazan, Baha and Najran (21).…”

Molecular Profiling of Breast Carcinoma in Almadinah, KSA: Immunophenotyping and Clinicopathological Correlation

“…These findings are consistent with observations already (Shomaf et al, 2013;Zheng et al, 2014). An important point of exception was significant percentages of lymph node metastasis and LVI in both luminal subtypes, which is probably due to advanced BC stage at the time of presentation in all the subtypes in our population (Alghamdi et al, 2013). This fact necessitates more organized efforts to highlight the importance of expanding our public awareness regarding BC screening programs and early diagnosis.…”