Clinical, Therapeutic, and Outcome Profiles of Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy According to Age at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bogodogo, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease whose clinical presentation and therapeutic response may vary according to age. Younger women often present with more aggressive disease, whereas in older women comorbidities and menopausal status may influence treatment decision-making. Methods: This comparative cohort study was conducted in the Radiotherapy Department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bogodogo between October 2022 and December 2025, with follow-up through April 2026. Ninety-eight women treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer were included and divided into two age groups: ≤50 years (n = 58) and >50 years (n = 40). Sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, gyneco-obstetric factors, histopathological and biological features, treatment modalities, and outcomes were compared between the two groups. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 2021. Fisher’s exact test or the chi-square test was used as appropriate, and survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with comparison by the log-rank test. Results: Hypertension was more frequent in patients older than 50 years than in those aged 50 years or younger (40.0% vs. 12.1%; p = 0.003). Diabetes followed a similar pattern (17.5% vs. 3.4%; p = 0.044). Menopause at diagnosis was markedly more frequent in the >50-year group (85.0% vs. 15.5%; p = 0.001). Tumor characteristics, treatment variables, and survival did not differ significantly between age groups. However, treatment interruption was more frequent in women older than 50 years (15.0% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.035). The estimated mean survival time was 1587.5 days in patients aged ≤ 50 years and 1273.1 days in those aged > 50 years, without a statistically significant difference (log-rank p = 0.625). Conclusion: Apart from hypertension, diabetes, and menopausal status, the two age groups were broadly comparable. Treatment interruption was more frequent after the age of 50 years, whereas preliminary therapeutic outcomes were similar. Breast cancer management should therefore remain individualized and based on overall oncologic risk and patient fitness rather than chronological age alone.