Treatment Patterns and Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in Karbala, Iraq: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study Breast Cancer Patterns in Iraq
Abstract
Background Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among Iraqi women, necessitating studies on its demographic and clinical factors to guide diagnosis and treatment approaches. The study aimed to identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of a sample of Iraqi females with breast cancer and predictors of therapy receipt.
Methods A cross-sectional-study was conducted in Kerbala-province in Iraq from October-2024 to February-2025 at the AL-Husseini Medical-City oncology-department. Age, marital status, employment, residence, menopausal-status, family history, stage, treatment, and receptor involvement were collected. The chi-square test was utilized to compare the metastatic and non-metastatic groups. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of therapy receipt.
Results Out of a total of 1,737 recorded cancer cases in Kerbala province, 342 cases (19.7%) were diagnosed as breast cancer. Among these, 152 cases (44.4%) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The non-metastatic cases (n=123, 80.92%) were estrogen-receptor positive, progesterone-receptor positive, and undergoing surgery and chemotherapy. Family history (OR 2.747, 95%CI 1.001-7.537), stage-I (OR 4.052, 95%CI 3.723-4.410), stage-II (OR 3.129, 95%CI 1.914-5.115), stage-III (OR 3.558, 95%CI 2.179-4.655), radiation-therapy (OR 0.022, 95%CI 0.001-0.545), chemotherapy (OR 0.149, 95%CI 0.045-0.496), and targeted-therapy (Trastuzumab) (OR 0.029, 95%CI 0.005-0.182) are associated with hormonal-therapy. Being menopausal (OR 0.083, 95%CI 0.012-0.596), human-epidermal-growth-factor-receptor-2 (HER2) positive (OR 5.339, 95%CI 1.509-18.885), and hormonal-therapy (OR 0.021, 95%CI 0.002-0.175) are associated with targeted-therapy (Trastuzumab).
Conclusion This study in Kerbala, Iraq, links breast cancer treatment decisions—especially hormonal and targeted therapies—to clinical factors like hormone-receptor status, HER2-involvement, stage, and menopausal status.
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