Breast cancer in younger women in Switzerland 1996-2009: a longitudinal population-based study

Alexandre Bodmer; Anita Feller; Andrea Bordoni; Christine Bouchardy; Silvia Dehler; Silvia Ess; Fabio Levi; Isabelle Konzelmann; Elisabetta Rapiti; Annik Steiner; Kerri M Clough-Gorr; NICER Working Group

doi:10.1016/j.breast.2014.11.004

Breast cancer in younger women in Switzerland 1996-2009: a longitudinal population-based study

Breast. 2015 Apr;24(2):112-7. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2014.11.004. Epub 2014 Dec 15.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ University Hospital Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland.
² National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration (NICER), Seilergraben 49, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland; Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: anita.feller@nicer.org.
³ Ticino Cancer Registry, Institute of Pathology, 6600 Locarno 1, Switzerland.
⁴ Geneva Cancer Registry, Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva, Bd de la Cluse 55, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
⁵ Cancer Registry of the Cantons Zurich and Zug, University Hospital Zurich, Vogelsangstrasse 10, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ Cancer Registry St Gallen-Appenzell, Cancer League St. Gallen-Appenzell, Flurhofstr. 7, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
⁷ Neuchâtel Cancer Registry, Avenue des Cadolles 7, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Vaud Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lausanne, Route de la Corniche 10, 1010 Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁸ Valais Cancer Registry, Health Observatory Valais, Avenue Grand-Champsec 86, 1950 Sion, Switzerland.
⁹ SAKK Coordinating Center, Effingerstrasse 40, 3008 Bern, Switzerland.
¹⁰ Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Finkenhubelweg 11, 3012 Bern, Switzerland; Section of Geriatrics, Boston University Medical Center, 88 East Newton St., Boston, MA 02118, USA.

PMID: 25522906
DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2014.11.004

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of death in younger women.

Methods: We analysed incidence, mortality and relative survival (RS) in women with BC aged 20-49 years at diagnosis, between 1996 and 2009 in Switzerland. Trends are reported as estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC).

Results: Our findings confirm a slight increase in the incidence of BC in younger Swiss women during the period 1996-2009. The increase was largest in women aged 20-39 years (EAPC 1.8%). Mortality decreased in both age groups with similar EAPCs. Survival was lowest among women 20-39 years (10-year RS 73.4%). We observed no notable differences in stage of disease at diagnosis that might explain these differences.

Conclusions: The increased incidence and lower survival in younger women diagnosed with BC in Switzerland indicates possible differences in risk factors, tumour biology and treatment characteristics that require additional examination.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer epidemiology; Incidence; Mortality; Survival; Younger women.

MeSH terms

Adult
Age Factors
Breast Neoplasms / epidemiology*
Breast Neoplasms / mortality
Breast Neoplasms / pathology
Carcinoma / epidemiology*
Carcinoma / mortality
Carcinoma / pathology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Longitudinal Studies
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Risk Factors
Switzerland / epidemiology
Young Adult