Exploring Dietary Patterns and Breast Cancer Risk: Epidemiological Insight from Sulaymaniyah City, Iraq
Dietary Patterns and Breast Cancer Risk
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29409/8780ff34Keywords:
Braest cancer, Diet, invasive ductal carcinoma, breast cancer epidemiologyAbstract
Objective: An increasing number of women are being diagnosed with breast cancer, which ranks as one of the most common cancers in women globally, particularly in developed nations. Although genetic environmental factors and lifestyle choices are all contributors to breast cancer risk, dietary habits are known to play a modifiable role in both the disease›s prevalence and prognosis; therefore, the aim of this study was to correlate dietary habits with the prevalence of breast cancer in Sulaymaniyah city, Iraq.
Methods: Hiwa Oncological Hospital in Iraq›s Sulaymaniyah City was the site of the research. In all, 301 individuals who received a breast cancer diagnosis between June 2023 and January 2024 were included in the sample size. Patient demographics, medical history, eating habits, and other crucial details related to daily dietary regimens were among the data obtained. Once collected, the data were processed via IBM SPSS Statistics.
Results: Among 301 breast cancer patients, 43.5% were aged 40--49 years, and 85.6% were married. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most prevalent subtype. Most patients (82.7%) followed a balanced diet, with IDC being the predominant subtype (73.9%). The majority (63.5%) consumed fruits and vegetables 1–2 times daily, while only 1% exceeded five servings. Additionally, 58.1% had no dietary restrictions, whereas 29.6% avoided sugar, meat, or fatty foods. It was observed that patients with uncontrolled dietary habits and lower fruit and vegetable intake were more likely to develop invasive breast cancer subtypes.
Conclusion: These results emphasize the necessity of advocating for healthier lifestyles through nutritional habits and screening in order to decrease the increasing breast cancer burden in the region. In order to lower the incidence of breast cancer and improve outcomes, it may be essential to implement dietary interventions and early screening techniques within the population.
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