Fatores associados ao estadiamento patológico tumoral avançado em mulheres com câncer de mama

Abstract

ntroduction: Breast cancer is among the leading causes of death and is the second most common cancer in the world. Socioeconomic factors have been shown to correlate with tumor pathological staging at diagnosis in order to identify populations at risk situations. Objective: To determine the prevalence of advanced staging in the diagnosis of breast cancer and associated factors in women undergoing cancer treatment in the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Methodology: This is a crosssectional study involving 97 women living in the city of Natal-RN, diagnosed with malignant neoplasm of the breast, who underwent oncologic treatment for at least one year and who are still in clinical follow-up in the Northern League Riograndense against Cancer. The data collection of the study was composed of two phases, one from the access to the patients' medical records and another one from individual interviews. Variables related to socioeconomic characteristics, life habits, health conditions, gynecological and obstetric history, clinical characteristics of the tumor, and therapeutic approach were collected. Bivariate analysis was performed using Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Results: 11.3% of the women were diagnosed in more advanced stages (CI: 95%), they were older than 55 years (50.5%), white (50.5%), income higher than two monthly minimum wages (61.9%), were married (49.5%), had completed high school education (57.8%), breast selfexamination (66%), mammography after age 40 (73 , 2%) and had access to the health service through the public system (52.6%). Due to the limited sample space, no statistically significant p value was obtained, however the income was the one with the closest value (p = 0.09). Conclusions: A high prevalence of diagnoses in more advanced stages of breast cancer and its relation with socioeconomic factors directly reflects the quality of the cancer screening programs, so that it allows the correct and effective investment in health policies for a greater comprehensiveness of the screening programs and early diagnosis