Study of Comparative Patterns of Breast Cancer Stages and Positive Hormone (Er/Pr/Her2-Neu) Status

Breast cancer refers to several types of neoplasm arising from breast tissue, the most common being adenocarcinoma of the cells lining the terminal duct lobular unit. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women all around the globe, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. However, the prognosis is good if detected early. The overall 5-year relative survival is 88% in women [1,2]. Risk of breast cancer increases with lifetime estrogen exposure. The majority of breast cancers are hormone sensitive, meaning that they express estrogen receptors and proliferate in response to estrogen stimulation. Endocrine therapies that inhibit estrogen production are effective in treating hormone-sensitive breast cancer [3,4]. Approximately 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary, meaning that there is a known genetic mutation causing increased cancer risk in the patient’s family [5]. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome is caused by mutations in two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2. The genes code for a DNA repair pathway that is important for protecting against mutations. The loss of either gene confers a high risk of breast cancer, as well as other cancers [6]. There are different and multiple steps in the diagnostic approach including screening, imaging (ultrasound and/or mammography), biopsy, pathological diagnosis and staging [7].