Disparities in late stage diagnosis, treatment, and breast cancer-related death by race, age, and rural residence among women in Georgia Journal Article

Local Library Link: Find It @ Loyola

Authors: Markossian, T. W.; Hines, R. B.
Article Title: Disparities in late stage diagnosis, treatment, and breast cancer-related death by race, age, and rural residence among women in Georgia
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to examine the outcomes of late stage breast cancer diagnosis, receiving first course treatment, and breast cancer-related death by race, age, and rural/urban residence in Georgia. The authors used cross-sectional and follow-up data (1992-2007) for Atlanta and Rural Georgia cancer registries that are part of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (N = 23,500 incident breast cancer cases in non-Hispanic whites or non-Hispanic African Americans). Multilevel modeling and Cox proportional hazard models revealed that compared to whites, African American women had significantly increased odds of late stage diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.08, p = 0.0001) and unknown tumor stage (OR = 1.27, p = 0.0001), decreased odds of receiving radiation (OR = 0.93, p = 0.041) or surgery (OR = 0.50, p = 0.0001), and increased risk of death following breast cancer diagnosis (hazard rate ratio [HR] = 1.50, p = 0.0001). Increased age was significantly associated with the odds of late/unknown stage at diagnosis, worse treatment, and survival. Women residing in rural areas had significantly decreased odds of receiving radiation and surgery with radiation (OR = 0.59, p = 0.0001), and for receiving breast-conserving surgery compared to mastectomy (OR = 0.73, p = 0.005). Factors affecting each level of the breast cancer continuum are distinct and should be examined separately. Efforts are needed to alleviate disparities in breast cancer outcomes in hard-to-reach populations.
Journal Title: Women health
Volume: 52
Issue: 4
ISSN: 1541-0331; 0363-0242
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2012
Start Page: 317
End Page: 335
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1080/03630242.2012.674091

10.1080/03630242.2012.674091
Notes: JID: 7608076; 0 (Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal); ppublish