Breast cancer epidemiology and clinical outcomes in Moroccan women: a six-year retrospective study

Introduction: breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Morocco, with 11,747 new cases reported in 2020. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiological and clinical aspects of breast cancer in Moroccan women. Methods: this retrospective study included all female breast cancer patients diagnosed at the Reference Center for Reproductive Health in Kenitra from 2013 to 2018. A detailed analysis of the patients´ medical records was conducted in this study. Results: the study included 973 female participants. The mean age of the patients was 51.1 ± 12.3 years (range, 18-95 years). Notably, 65.1% of the participants were from urban areas. The median diagnosis delay was 8 days. Over half (53.3%) of the women were postmenopausal, with a mean age at menopause of 50.3 ± 4 years. The mean age at first pregnancy was 23.9 ± 6.8 years, ranging from 12 to 47 years. Fifty-four percent of the women used hormonal contraceptives, primarily oral pills. During clinical examination, breast nodules were the most prevalent presenting sign in the sampled women, with nodules typically found to be fixed in 89% of cases in the right breast and 91% in the left breast. Conclusion: the study revealed significant concerns regarding women diagnosed at the Reference Center for Reproductive Health in Kenitra, such as prolonged diagnosis delays, advanced age at menopause, and a considerable prevalence of nodules and palpable axillary adenopathy.