Introduction:

Worldwide, breast cancer represents approximately 24.5 % of new cases of cancer in women. It affects the physical, psychological and emotional components, impacts work performance and family and social roles.

Objective:

To describe the occupational profiles prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer in women permanent residents of Medellín -Colombia.

Methodology:

Study with a quantitative, observational, descriptive approach. 254 women diagnosed with invasive and primary breast cancer in the years 2020 and 2021, treated in five health institutions in the municipality of Medellín, were included. Univariate analysis was performed to describe the sociodemographic and occupational characteristics of the population and multiple correspondence analysis to identify occupational profiles.

Results:

Before the diagnosis, the highest percentage of the participants were housewives (41.7 %), followed by workers in administrative and related areas such as lawyers and electronic and systems engineers (13.4 %). In the multiple correspondence analysis, from two dimensions that explained 22.5 % of the variance, three main profiles and a fourth non-specific profile were identified; 18 % of the participants were in profile I, represented by housewives and unemployed women with low income and low educational level.

Conclusion:

The main occupational profile prior to diagnosis of the women with breast cancer included in the study was represented by housewives with low economic and educational conditions.

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