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Impact of obesity on diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

In this population-based study, we evaluated the impact of obesity on presentation, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Among all women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the canton Geneva (Switzerland) between 2003 and 2005, we identified those with information on body mass index (BMI) and categorized them into normal/underweight (BMI <25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥–<30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) women. Using multivariate logistic regression, we compared tumour, diagnosis and treatment characteristics between groups. Obese women presented significantly more often with stage III–IV disease (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj]: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0–3.3). Tumours ≥1 cm and pN2-N3 lymph nodes were significantly more often impalpable in obese than in normal/underweight patients (ORadj 2.4, [1.1–5.3] and ORadj 5.1, [1.0–25.4], respectively). Obese women were less likely to have undergone ultrasound (ORadj 0.5, [0.3–0.9]) and MRI (ORadj 0.3, [0.1–0.6]) and were at increased risk of prolonged hospital stay (ORadj 4.7, [2.0–10.9]). This study finds important diagnostic and therapeutic differences between obese and lean women, which may impair survival of obese women with breast cancer. Specific strategies are needed to optimize the care of obese women with or at risk of breast cancer.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Stina Blagojevic for technical and editorial assistance and the registry team for providing data and support. This study was financially supported by the Swiss Cancer League.

Conflicts of interest

The authors indicate no potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geneva Cancer Registry, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Geneva University, 55 Boulevard de la Cluse, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    Carole Deglise, Christine Bouchardy, Mafalda Burri, Massimo Usel, Isabelle Neyroud-Caspar, Monica Castiglione, Elisabetta Rapiti & Helena Marieke Verkooijen

  2. Senology Unit, Division of Gynaecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

    Georges Vlastos

  3. Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

    Pierre Olivier Chappuis

  4. Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Genetic Medicine and Laboratory, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

    Pierre Olivier Chappuis

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Helena Marieke Verkooijen

  6. Zurich Cancer Registry, Institutes of Social and Preventive Medicine, Surgical Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Michela Ceschi

  7. St. Gallen Cancer Registry, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Silvia Ess

Authors
  1. Carole Deglise
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  2. Christine Bouchardy
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  3. Mafalda Burri
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  4. Massimo Usel
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  7. Pierre Olivier Chappuis
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  8. Michela Ceschi
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  9. Silvia Ess
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  11. Elisabetta Rapiti
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  12. Helena Marieke Verkooijen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christine Bouchardy.

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Deglise, C., Bouchardy, C., Burri, M. et al. Impact of obesity on diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 120, 185–193 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-009-0459-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-009-0459-1

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