Retrospective Study
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World J Clin Oncol. Dec 10, 2014; 5(5): 1097-1106
Published online Dec 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i5.1097
Risk factors and natural history of breast cancer in younger Chinese women
Winnie Yeo, Hang-Mei Lee, Amy Chan, Emily YY Chan, Miranda CM Chan, Keeng-Wai Chan, Sharon WW Chan, Foon-Yiu Cheung, Polly SY Cheung, Peter HK Choi, Josette SY Chor, William WL Foo, Wing-Hong Kwan, Stephen CK Law, Lawrence PK Li, Janice WH Tsang, Yuk Tung, Lorna LS Wong, Ting-Ting Wong, Chun-Chung Yau, Tsz-Kok Yau, Benny CY Zee
Winnie Yeo, Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Hang-Mei Lee, Amy Chan, Polly SY Cheung, Lorna LS Wong, Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, Hong Kong, China
Emily YY Chan, Josette SY Chor, Benny CY Zee, Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Miranda CM Chan, Department of Surgery, Kwong Wah Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Keeng-Wai Chan, Diagnostix Pathology Laboratories Ltd, Canossa Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Sharon WW Chan, Kowloon East Cluster Breast Centre, Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Foon-Yiu Cheung, Department of Clinical Oncology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Peter HK Choi, Lawrence PK Li, Private Clinical Oncologist, Hong Kong, China
William WL Foo, Radiotherapy and Oncology Centre, Hong Kong Baptist Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Wing-Hong Kwan, Comprehensive Oncology Centre, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Stephen CK Law, Hong Kong Adventist Oncology Center, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Janice WH Tsang, Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Yuk Tung, Department of Clinical Oncology, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Ting-Ting Wong, Private Surgeon, Hong Kong, China
Chun-Chung Yau, Department of Clinical Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, China
Tsz-Kok Yau, Private Clinical Oncologist, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: Yeo W, Chan EYY, Chan MCM, Chan KW, Chan SWW, Cheung FY, Cheung PSY, Choi PHK, Chor JSY, Foo WWL, Kwan WH, Law SCK, Li LPK, Tsang JWH, Tung Y, Wong LLS, Wong TT, Yau CC, Yau TK and Zee BCY designed the research; Lee HM and Chan A performed the research; Yeo W, Lee HM, Chan A and Cheung PSY analyzed the data; Yeo W, Lee HM and Cheung PSY wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Winnie Yeo, Professor, Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, 30-32 Ngan Shing Street, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. research@hkbcf.org
Telephone: +852-2525-6033 Fax: +852-2525-6233
Received: May 25, 2014
Revised: June 20, 2014
Accepted: July 25, 2014
Published online: December 10, 2014
Processing time: 247 Days and 2 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: We conducted this study to investigate the age differences in the risk factors associated with breast cancer development of female breast cancer patients in Hong Kong. Further, among patients with invasive cancers, we compared the clinicopathological characteristics and the treatments received between these two groups of patients. Younger patients in Hong Kong were found to be more likely to encounter risk factors associated with breast cancer development and have more aggressive tumours than their older counterparts. Based on the current findings, we will conduct further research to evaluate the impact of age at diagnosis on the outcomes of the disease.