Abstract
Objective: To investigate general and socio-economic conditions in the development of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. Methods: Between1st March 2007 to 1st. October 2007, we conducted a case-control study, on 52 pre-menopausal women proved to have breast cancer and 80 pre-menopausal women proved to be without breast cancer were considered as controls. The questionnaire included, assessment of socio-economic factors, life events (stress, social discontinuities and geographical mobility), social context (economic factors, social disintegration, urbanization) and social class. In addition, previous history of surgical operation, parity, history of contraceptive pills usage, and chronic non-communicable diseases and previous X-Rays exposure, were also obtained. Moreover, body mass index and waist to hip ratio were obtained. Results: Regarding Personal Characteristics; positive family history, sedentary life styles, unhealthy dietary behavior, personality type A, and active smoking, all were found to be significantly associated with the occurrence of breast cancer. According to Life Events; stress, social discontinuities and geographical mobility, were also found to be related to the development of breast cancer. Regarding Social Context, both economic factor and social disintegration were found to be highly and significantly associated with breast cancer. According to Other Variables, the presence of one or more of chronic non-communicable diseases in addition to previous exposure to diagnostic X-Rays radiation, having a BMI > 25, having a WHR > 1, being in lower social classes and the previous use of oral contraceptive pills were all found to be among the significant risk factors in the development of breast cancer among pre-menopausal women. Conclusion: Pre-menopausal women with positive family history, sedentary life, unhealthy dietary behavior, personality type A, social discontinuities, active smoking, stress, social discontinuities, geographical mobility, social disintegration, sudden change of economic status, chronic diseases, previous X-Rays exposure, obesity, previous history of oral contraceptive pills usage and being from lower social classes are at high risk of developing of breast cancer. This, indicates the very high responsibility of modern doctors to bear social factors on mind in evaluating such diseases and also in health education.
