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Breast Cancer Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Trinidad and Tobago

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An Erratum to this article was published on 22 April 2014

Abstract

Trinidad and Tobago (TT) is the country with the highest breast cancer mortality in the Caribbean. It is unknown whether biological, behavioral, environmental, or clinical factors play a significant role in such outcome. A total of 2,614 incident cases, histologically confirmed and recorded in the TT cancer registries between 1995 and 2005, with follow-up through 2009 were analyzed. Half of the cases were diagnosed between the ages of 40–59 years, 12.5 % before the age of 40 years; 45 % of women were diagnosed at localized stage and 43.7 % were hormone receptor positive. Women diagnosed with distant staging were more likely to undergo chemotherapy compared to those with localized staging (OR 1.39; 95 % CI 1.01–1.89). Hormone receptor negative cases were significantly less likely to undergo radiation or surgery therapy (OR 0.66; 95 % CI 0.56–0.79 and OR 0.67; 95 % CI 0.51–0.88 respectively) compared to those who were hormone receptor positive, but more than 1.5 times as likely to undergo chemotherapy. In multivariate analyses, advanced stage disease and negative hormone receptor status were independently significantly associated with poorer survival outcome. No racial/ethnic differences were observed with respect to treatment or survival. Although access to breast cancer screening and treatment is free in Trinidad and Tobago, breast cancer diagnosis occurs at advanced stages; use of multimodality therapy as a first course of treatment is low.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, North Shore/LIJ Health System, 175 Community Drive, Rm 203, Great Neck, NY, 11021, USA

    Marlene Camacho-Rivera, Tricia Kalwar & Emanuela Taioli

  2. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore/LIJ Health System, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA

    Marlene Camacho-Rivera & Emanuela Taioli

  3. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Camille Ragin

  4. Trinidad and Tobago Cancer Registry, Mount Hope, Trinidad and Tobago

    Veronica Roach

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  1. Marlene Camacho-Rivera
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  4. Tricia Kalwar
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Correspondence to Emanuela Taioli.

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Camacho-Rivera, M., Ragin, C., Roach, V. et al. Breast Cancer Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Trinidad and Tobago. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 765–772 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9930-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9930-5

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