Association of Breast Cancer with Epstein- Bar Virus and Cytomegalovirus Infection: Histological Types and Risk Factors

Breast cancer

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most important global health problems and it is the most common diagnosed cancer in women in developing and developed countries. Around two-thirds of new cases are in developed countries. Breast cancer is also the most common cancer in females in developing countries with the age standardized incidence rate around 20 per 100,000. The factors that contribute to the international variation in incidence rates are largely due to the differences in reproductive and hormonal factors and the availability of early detection services, Incidence rates in some countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Australia, sharply decreased from the beginning of the millennium, partly due to lower use of combined postmenopausal hormone therapy. In all countries of the Arab world, breast cancer now occupies the number one position of all female malignancies. Cases tend to be young and almost half of patients are below 50, with a median age of 49-52 years as compared to 63 in industrialized nations. In recent years the higher increase in incidence of cancer worldwide is likely to be in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where breast cancer is reported as the commonest type of female malignancy in almost all national cancer registries. Breast cancer ranks the first among cancers in Iraqi population and forms 16.28/100000. Additionally, breast cancer account for 34% of the reported cancer cases for the year 2018. The incidence of breast cancer in Iraqi women increased in the last two decades and forms one of the major threats to female health.