Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women globally and specifically within Iraq. Accurate assessment of prognostic and predictive factors at the time of diagnosis is essential for selecting optimal therapy and predicting clinical outcomes. Purpose: This study aims to determine the correlation between the stage of breast cancer at the time of presentation and the survival rate in Iraqi patients. It also seeks to identify how various risk factors influence this relationship. Methods: A retrospective analytic study was conducted on 508 female patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 1998 and 2010 at Baghdad Teaching Hospital and a private clinic. Data collected included socio-demographic characteristics, histological diagnosis (WHO classification), and clinical staging using the AJCC TNM system. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23 to assess significant associations (p < 0.05). Results: The mean age of the patients was 50.6±11.95 years, with the majority (77.15%) being over 40 years old. The most common age group at presentation was 41–50 years, primarily presenting in Stage II and Stage III. Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) was the dominant histological type, accounting for 90% of cases. Notably, 47.8% of patients had a positive family history of breast cancer, which was most frequently associated with Stage IV diagnoses. Conclusions: In Iraq, breast cancer is frequently diagnosed at locally advanced stages (Stage II and III), which significantly impacts prognosis and treatment strategy. The high prevalence of IDC and the strong correlation between positive family history and advanced staging suggest a need for enhanced early detection programs and genetic screening in the region.
Dr. Rafid H. Alzaidy*1, Dr. Ali Ahmed Akbar1, Dr. Hamid Dawood Almussawi1 (Wed,) studied this question.