BREAST CANCER IN THE WORLD AND TURKEY

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer of women, comprising 23% of all female cancers around the globe, with an estimated 1.15 million cases diagnosed in 2002. Of the 411,000 breast cancer deaths around the world, 221,000 (54%) occurred in low-and middle-income countries (LMCs). However, in most low-and middle-income countries (LMCs), incidence rates are increasing at a more rapidly than in areas where incidence rates are already high. Breast cancer incidence and prevalence in western part of Turkey in 1992 was 24.4/100.000 in 1992 and 0.3% respectively. Distribution of breast cancer incidence in 2000s changes in different regions of Turkey due to geographic, economic, social, cultural factors. Breast cancer incidence in western part of Turkey (50/100.000) is more than two times in eastern part of Turkey (20/100.000) due to "Westernizing life" (early menarche, late menopause, first birth >30 years, less breast feeding, etc.), and other related factors.