Risk factors associated with aggressive breast cancer forms seen in young women of Western Kenya

Abstract

Today in Africa, breast cancer cases are on the rise, seen in a much younger age, more aggressive and likely to kill compared to North America. It is not clear if risk factors associated with development of these forms of breast cancer in African women are similar to those recorded elsewhere. We determine established risk factors in histologically confirm breast cancer cases and suspected breast lumps in Western Kenya. Study questionnaires were used to obtain personal details, family history, reproductive factors, lifestyle behaviors and environmental factors associated with developing breast cancer. Data entry was done in excel spreadsheet and exported to Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS V.20) for analysis Results were considered significant at p=0.05. Multiple binary logistic regression indicated that use of alcohol was a significant risk factors for breast cancer (p=0.029). Those not using alcohol were less likely to be cases (OR; 95%CI: 0.052(0.004-0.736). The Kalenjin were more likely to be cases compared to other tribes though not statistically significant. Similarly, those using injection for contraceptive are more likely to be cases. We report that tribe, place of residence, reproductive and lifestyle habits are associated with development of this disease suggesting that genetics, lifestyle and environmental risk factors could be responsible with the early onset of breast cancer in African women therefore screening for these risk factors should be done at an earlier age with the aim of early detection and treatment and thus increase chances of survival. Further research on the effects of already known and the unknown risk factors on the tumor suppressor genes need to be ascertained.