Table 1 Patients’ characteristics and clinical features (n = 280)
| Â | No. of patients | % |
|---|---|---|
Age at time of breast cancer diagnosis | ||
  ≤ 35 | 42 | 15 |
 36–40 | 81 | 28.9 |
 41–45 | 157 | 56.1 |
Age at study entry | ||
  ≤ 35 | 8 | 2.9 |
 36–40 | 26 | 9.2 |
 41–45 | 76 | 27.1 |
 46–50 | 146 | 52.1 |
  > 50 | 23 | 8.6 |
Education | ||
 Primary | 47 | 16.9 |
 Secondary | 187 | 67.0 |
 Tertiary and higher qualification | 45 | 16.2 |
Marital Status | ||
 Single | 43 | 15.4 |
 Married Partner | 216 | 77.1 |
 Divorced | 15 | 5.4 |
 Widowed | 6 | 2.1 |
Family income* | ||
  < HK$5000 | 27 | 9.6 |
 HK$5000-25,000 | 150 | 53.6 |
  > HK$25,000 | 103 | 36.8 |
BMI at study entry (kg/m2) [25] | ||
  < 18.5 (Underweight) | 11 | 3.9 |
 18.5–22.9 (Normal) | 123 | 44.0 |
 23.0–24.9 (Overweight) | 62 | 22.1 |
  > 25 (Obese) | 84 | 30.0 |
Staging | ||
 I | 88 | 31.4 |
 II | 165 | 58.9 |
 III | 27 | 9.6 |
Hormonal receptor | ||
 ER positive | 203 | 72.5 |
 PR positive | 187 | 66.8 |
HER overexpression | 47 | 16.8 |
Breast surgery: | ||
 Lumpectomy | 95 | 33.9 |
 Mastectomy | 185 | 66.1 |
Axillary nodal dissection | 276 | 98.6 |
Adjuvant radiotherapy | 186 | 66.4 |
Adjuvant chemotherapy regimen: | ||
 Taxane-containing | 79 | 28.2 |
 Non-taxane-containing | 201 | 71.8 |
Adjuvant chemotherapy lasting longer than 64 days | 191 | 68.2 |
Time since last adjuvant treatment** | ||
 3 to < 5 years | 160 | 57.1 |
 5 to < 10 years | 120 | 42.9 |
Ever received adjuvant tamoxifen | 214 | 76.4 |
On adjuvant tamoxifen at study entry | 115 | 41.1 |
Adjuvant targeted therapy with trastuzumab | 8 | 2.9 |
Utilization of traditional Chinese medicine since diagnosis | 83 | 29.6 |
Menopausal status at study entry | ||
 Premenopausal | 112 | 40 |
 Peri/Post- menopausal | 168 | 60 |