To study the survival analysis and recurrence pattern in women treated for breast cancer: Retrospective study, a tertiary cancer center experience from Sub‐Himalayan Region of India

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a leading health concern in India, comprising 25% of female cancers with significant mortality. This study was conducted at the Cancer Research Institute in the Northern Sub‐Himalayan region of India from 2016 to 2021, evaluated 674 breast cancer cases to analyze factors that influence recurrence. Methodology: Retrospective clinical audit assessing patients’ survival outcomes using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard regression. Factors including age, molecular subtype, TNM staging, and treatment modalities were evaluated. Results: Notable findings include a high occurrence of breast cancer in young patients (24.48% ≤ 40 years) and varying recurrence rates among molecular subtypes with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 neu‐enriched (25.24%) and triple‑negative breast cancer (22.58%) being the most common. Advanced T and N stages, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the number of nodes dissected showed significant associations with higher recurrence rates. Conclusion: This study sheds light on survival and recurrence patterns in Northern Sub‐Himalayan breast cancer patients, emphasizing the need for tailored treatment strategies, comprehensive follow‐up care, with improved understanding of regional outcomes. These findings contribute valuable insights for optimizing patient care and improving survival rates in this region.