OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the differential impact of the main modifiable risk factors associated with breast cancer among patients younger than 40 years of age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cohort, retrospective, observational and descriptive study. The information of the patients with diagnosis or treatment of breast cancer treated in a hospital in Northeast Mexico between January 2016 and December 2017 was collected. The association between the different variables and the age groups was determined with the test of Pearson’s χ2 and the values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:

524 clinical records of patients with breast cancer were reviewed, with age limits between 22 and 99 years. From this group, patients under 40 years of age (n = 75) were selected, representing 14.31% of the total number of patients treated, a percentage that coincides with the prevalence of breast cancer in young women reported in the Mexican literature. A similar impact was found on the risk of breast cancer between both groups with the following modifiable risk factors: nulliparity, smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle and hormonal contraception. Obesity (BMI ≥ 30) had a greater impact on women ≥ 40 years.

CONCLUSION:

The prevalence of breast cancer in young patients was double what was reported internationally. Weight control is necessary in women under 40 years of age, which allows reducing the incidence of triple negative breast cancer in this population. Likewise, the control of the other modifiable risk factors is recommended because, although they do not seem to significantly affect young women, their control has a positive impact on the prevention of breast cancer in all age groups.