Epidemiological, Clinicopathological, and Therapeutic Profile of Breast Cancer in Young Women in Yaounde, Cameroon: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer in women worldwide, with cases in young women (under 40 years old) being more aggressive and associated with poorer outcomes. In Cameroon, data specific to this population are scarce. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinicopathological, and therapeutic profile of young breast cancer patients at the Yaounde General Hospital (YGH). This 10-year retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the Yaounde General Hospital and included 32 women under 40 years with invasive breast carcinoma. Out of 204 evaluable breast cancer patients, 32 (15.7%) met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 34.6 ± 3.4 years and an average diagnostic delay of 9.5 ± 9.3 months A significant proportion (75%, n=24) of patients presented with locally advanced or metastatic disease (Stage III or IV). Invasive ductal carcinoma was predominant (90.6%), with SBR Grade II being the most common histological grade (46.9%). Only 21.9% (n=7) of patients underwent immunohistochemistry (IHC), revealing a predominance of the Triple-Negative subtype (42.8% of tested cases). All patients (100%) received first-line chemotherapy, with a low 5-year survival rate of 12.5% and a median survival of 2.6 years. The study concludes that breast cancer in young women in Yaounde is characterized by a late presentation, aggressive biological characteristics, and an unfavorable prognosis. These findings highlight an urgent need for targeted awareness campaigns, early screening, and access to molecular diagnostics to improve outcomes in young women with breast cancer in Cameroon.