Risk Factors of Breast Cancer among Women in Eastern India: A Tertiary Hospital Based Case Control Study

Abstract

Aim: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers of women in India with high fatality rate. Over a 1year study period 105 consecutive biopsy or fine needle aspiration cytology confirmed breast cancer patientswere interviewed by direct questionnaire method regarding risk factors attending Surgery and RadiotherapyOPD of Medical College Kolkata, West Bengal while taking other 105 patients attending Surgery Departmentfor some other disease as controls. The data were compiled in MS Excel 2007 and analyzed by Epi info 3.5.1software. Among the cases, rural residence, illiteracy and low socio-economic status was significantly higherthan controls. Late onset of menarche, late onset of menopause, ever OCP usage, breast feeding for 1-2 yearsand age of 1st childbirth between 20-30 years were found to be significant protective factors. People should bemade aware regarding the modifiable risk factors to prevent breast cancer.