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Parity and disparity in first course treatment of invasive breast cancer

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background Adherence to first course treatment guidelines for breast cancer may not be uniform across racial/ethnic groups and could be a major contributing factor to disparities in outcome. In this population-based study, we assessed racial differences in initial treatment of breast cancer. Methods Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program data were used to study all primary invasive breast cancers diagnosed during 2000–2001 among Black (n = 877) and White (n = 2437) female residents of the five Atlanta SEER counties, counties with several large teaching hospitals. Differences in treatment delay, cancer directed surgery, and receipt of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormonal therapy were analyzed according to guidelines for treatment. Analyses utilized frequency distributions, χ2 tests of independence and statistics in and across strata. Results Black women experienced longer treatment delays, regardless of stage at diagnosis, and were 4–5 fold more likely to experience delays greater than 60 days (P < 0.001). For local–regional disease, more Black women did not receive cancer directed surgery (7.5% vs. 1.5% of white women, P < 0.001), but did receive breast conserving surgery (BCS) equivalently. Only 61% of Black vs. 72% of White women received radiation with BCS (P < 0.001). Black women eligible for hormonal therapy were less likely to receive it (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our findings suggest treatment standards are not adequately or equivalently met among Black and White women, even in an area where teaching hospitals provide a substantial portion of breast cancer care. Treatment differences can adversely affect outcome and reasons for the differences need to be addressed.

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Abbreviations

BCS:

Breast Conserving Surgery

ER:

Estrogen Receptor

PR:

Progesterone Receptor

+:

Positive

SEER:

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

NOS:

Not otherwise specified

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by grants from the Avon Foundation, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services (N01-PC-35135), The Grady Center for Health Disparities [(5P60MD000525-04), (5P60MD000525-03), (5P60MD000525-02), (1P60MD000525-01)], The Ladies of Hope Patient Navigation Program at Grady (1U01CA116890-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Mary Jo Lund, Otis P. Brawley, Kevin C. Ward & John L. Young

  2. Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Mary Jo Lund, Otis P. Brawley & J. William Eley

  3. Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Mary Jo Lund, Otis P. Brawley & Sheryl S. G. Gabram

  4. Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Mary Jo Lund, Otis P. Brawley, Sheryl S. G. Gabram & J. William Eley

  5. Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Kevin C. Ward & John L. Young

Authors
  1. Mary Jo Lund
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  2. Otis P. Brawley
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  3. Kevin C. Ward
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  5. Sheryl S. G. Gabram
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  6. J. William Eley
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary Jo Lund.

Additional information

This work was presented in part (Abstract/Poster Presentation) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, Atlanta, GA June 2–6, 2006

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Lund, M.J., Brawley, O.P., Ward, K.C. et al. Parity and disparity in first course treatment of invasive breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 109, 545–557 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9675-8

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