Epidemiological and pathological profile of breast cancer in Southern Algerian women (2015-2019)

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common female cancer, both in developed and developing countries, however with an incidence 2 to 3 times lower in the latter. While, in general, the high incidence of BC in young women is an epidemiological reality in Algeria, data remains limited in southern Algeria. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and pathological profile of breast cancer in southern Algeria. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study based on incident cases of invasive BC recorded in women living in the wilaya of Ouargla, by the cancer registry during 2015-2019. Results: The number of cases of invasive BC recorded was 424, which represents 45% of female cancers diagnosed during this period, with an average standardized incidence of 41.6 per 100,000 women. The average age is 48 +/- 12.3 years. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma represents more than 79% of the different histological types of BC. The frequencies of grade II and III tumors were 42.9% and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: The standardized incidence rate recorded in our wilaya is much lower than the rates ofthe various wilayas in the north. The high mortality rate can be explained by the lack of BC screening strategy. The early detection of BC combined with appropriate treatment has improved survival in developed countries