The First Population-Level Description of Women Diagnosed With Invasive Breast Cancer in Costa Rica From 2008 to 2012: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. In Costa Rica, it ranks first in incidence and fourth in terms of mortality. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information on treatment patterns and outcomes for breast cancer patients in Costa Rica. METHODS: This study utilized data from the National Tumor Registry, which was merged with the Costa Rica Social Security Fund (CCSS) to ensure comprehensive access to clinical information. The study is prospective and focused on patients diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2008 and December 2012. This combined dataset allowed for a more comprehensive analysis of patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes related to breast cancer in Costa Rica. RESULTS: Among the 4775 patients diagnosed during this period, 3160 met the inclusion criteria for our study. The average age at diagnosis was 59.1 years, with 32.5% of patients being over the age of 65. Most of the patients (55.4%) identified themselves as homemakers, while 46.5% underwent core needle biopsy for diagnosis. Approximately 60% of women were diagnosed with early-stage disease (IA, IIA, and IIB), while 1.7% had metastatic disease, mainly affecting the bone. The mean interval between diagnosis and surgery was 72 days. Most patients (88.7%) received surgery as their initial treatment, and over half (54.4%) received some form of adjuvant therapy. Additionally, 85.6% of patients completed their prescribed treatment. CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive and detailed description of the characteristics and treatment patterns among breast cancer patients in Costa Rica. The findings contribute to our understanding of the disease in this population and can serve as a foundation for further research and improvement in breast cancer management and care.