Abstract
Context: Breast cancer incidence is increasing rapidly in India. The lifestyle, built, genetic
makeup, reproductive and breastfeeding patterns are quite different in Indian females
when compared to the Western population. Generalizing the Western data to the population
residing in the Himalayan region would breed inaccuracies. Aim: The aim of our study was to identify risk factors in our own population in a Western
Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh, India. Subjects and Methods: A case–control study with 377 cases of invasive breast cancer and 346 hospital-based
controls was conducted for 1 year. The data were collected by interviewing the individuals
during their visit to hospital using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using
standard statistical techniques using SPSS version 17 software. Results: Factors found to have strong association with invasive breast cancer on multivariate
analysis are late age at first childbirth >30 years, which is the strongest risk factor
associated, late age of menopause > 50 years, high socioeconomic class, and age of
female above 50 years. Conclusion: In our females, age >50 years, late age of menopause (>50 years), late age at first
childbirth (>30 years), and high socioeconomic status were found to be major risk
factors associated with breast cancer. Several factors implicated in the Western data
were not found to be significant in our study. We need to identify such aspects in
reproductive and breastfeeding patterns of women and spread awareness regarding the
same.
Key words
Breast cancer risk factors - breastfeeding - childbearing - Himalayan population -
urbanization
