The scenario of presentation of young females in a rural cancer hospital of North India: An initial experience

A total of 51 cases of young females aged between 18-35 years were prospectively studied for the presentation in a Rural Charitable Cancer hospital in north India during the period August 2011 to April 2012. Breast related symptoms comprised 27 (52.94%) cases, out of which 10 (19.60%) were proven malignant. Other cases seen were Gynecological (Gyn) 8 (15.68%), Head and Neck (H and N) 5 (9.80%), Gastrointestinal (GI) 4 (7.84%), Lymphomas 3 (5.88%) and 2 (3.92%) cases each of Bone Tumors and Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors. Breast related symptoms constituted the major presentation in young females (aged 18-35 years) in our Rural Cancer Hospital. This high percentage of Breast related symptoms points towards the increasing trend of Breast malignancies possibly overtaking cancer cervix in rural India, as already in the urban settlements of India as well as the increasing awareness in the females of rural India regarding early symptoms of carcinoma Breast.