Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death worldwide. The risk factors for breast cancer can be genetic mutation, age, and family history, reproductive risk factors such as early age at menarche and late age at menopause, older age at first full-term birth, number of children, nulliparity, and duration of breastfeeding.

Aim and Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of the patients with breast cancer attending tertiary care hospital in Southern Rajasthan.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective record-based study that was conducted in a tertiary health care hospital in Southern Rajasthan. Data were collected from the case files/records of the patients suffering from breast cancer. Information regarding the demographic details of patients (age at time of diagnosis, religion, place of residence, and education level), reproductive (age at menarche, age at menopause, age at first child birth, duration of breast feeding, and number of children) and life style related data were collected from case files for analysis.

Results: The majority of the patients at the time of diagnosis were between 35 and 45 year age group followed by 46–55 year age group in the present study. The majority of the patients, 72.01% were from urban areas. The most of the patients at the time of diagnosis were in clinical Stage II and III. In the present study, 16% of the patients were <13 years of age at menarche, 12.23% had attained late menopause at >51 years, 7.99% patients had the first child birth at the age of >30 years, and 12.98% patients had the family history of breast cancer.

Conclusion: Breast cancer develops earlier in Indian women compared to Western population and is one of the leading cause of mortality. Early detection and awareness about breast cancer through implementation of public health programs can help in reducing mortality.

Key words: Breast Cancer; Risk Factors; Epidemiology