Nationwide Korean Breast Cancer Data of 2004 Using Breast Canser Registration Program The Korean Breast Cancer Society

Purpose: Since 1996, the Korean Breast Cancer Society has analyzed and reported the nation wide breast cancer data on a biannual basis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the chronologic changes of Korean breast cancer characteristics and to compare the data with those of other countries. From 2001, on-line registration program was started and we can now obtain and analyze the data, more easily. Methods: Data were collected from 39 medical schools(71 hospitals), 27 general hospitals and 7 private clinics. The essential data were collected via questionnaire and other detailed data were collected through the on-line registration program. Results: 9668 cases of breast cancer were newly diagnosed in 2004. The crude incidence rate of breast cancer of 2004 was 40.5 among 100,000 and the patients median age was 47.0 years. In a difference from the United States and western countries, the age distribution of breast cancer peaked in the fifth decade of life; this was followed by the sixth, seventh and fourth decades. In all, the proportion of early breast cancer(stage 0, I) was 45.2% and breast conserving surgery was performed in 41.9% of the patients. Compared with the results of 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2002, the number of patients with breast cancer has increased. The age distribution pattern has not changed since the initial survey. The proportion of early breast cancer has been increasing and also the proportion of breast conservation surgery has also been increasing. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the incidence of breast cancer in Korea will continue to rise. Several characteristics of Korean breast cancer patients seem to follow the patterns of western countries, but differences are present. To understand the characteristics of Korean breast cancer, continuous nationwide data collection and analysis should be done.ope