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Possible socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in quality of life in a cohort of breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Background

This paper describes the ethnic and socioeconomic correlates of functioning in a cohort of long-term nonrecurring breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Participants (n = 804) in this study were women from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study, a population-based, multicenter, multiethnic, prospective study of women newly diagnosed with in situ or Stages I to IIIA breast cancer. Measurements occurred at three timepoints following diagnosis. Outcomes included standardized measures of functioning (MOS SF-36).

Results

Overall, these long-term survivors reported values on two physical function subscales of the SF-36 slightly lower than population norms. Black women reported statistically significantly lower physical functioning (PF) scores (P = 0.01), compared with White and Hispanic women, but higher mental health (MH) scores (P < 0.01) compared with White and Hispanic women. In the final adjusted model, race was significantly related to PF, with Black participants and participants in the “Other” ethnic category reporting poorer functioning compared to the White referent group (P < 0.01, 0.05). Not working outside the home, being retired or disabled and being unemployed (on leave, looking for work) were associated with poorer PF compared to currently working (both P < 0.01).

Conclusion

These data indicate that race/ethnicity influences psychosocial functioning in breast cancer survivors and can be used to identify need for targeted interventions to improve functioning.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript presents original data from our study. A portion of these data were presented at the Cancer Survivorship Pathways to Health meeting of the National Cancer Institute, June 2004.

This research was supported by research contracts from the National Cancer Institute (N01-CN-75036-20, N01-CN-05228, N01-PC-67010) and by a training grant from the National Cancer Institute (R25 CA92408)

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kathy B. Baumgartner & Josala Fetherolf

    Present address: Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Investigation Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville , KY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, M4-B402, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA

    Deborah J. Bowen, Catherine M. Alfano, Bonnie A. McGregor, Alan Kuniyuki & Anne McTiernan

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Leslie Bernstein & Kathy Meeske

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Cancer Research and Treatment Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Kathy B. Baumgartner & Josala Fetherolf

  4. Outcomes Research Branch, ARP, DCCPS, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7344, USA

    Bryce B. Reeve

  5. Applied Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Ashley Wilder Smith & Rachel Ballard Barbash

  6. Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Division of Cancer Prevention and Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Science, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Ashley Wilder Smith

  7. Schools of Medicine and Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Patricia A. Ganz

  8. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Patricia A. Ganz

Authors
  1. Deborah J. Bowen
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  2. Catherine M. Alfano
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  3. Bonnie A. McGregor
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  4. Alan Kuniyuki
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  5. Leslie Bernstein
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  6. Kathy Meeske
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  7. Kathy B. Baumgartner
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  8. Josala Fetherolf
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  9. Bryce B. Reeve
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  10. Ashley Wilder Smith
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  11. Patricia A. Ganz
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  12. Anne McTiernan
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  13. Rachel Ballard Barbash
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne McTiernan.

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Bowen, D.J., Alfano, C.M., McGregor, B.A. et al. Possible socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in quality of life in a cohort of breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Res Treat 106, 85–95 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-006-9479-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-006-9479-2

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