Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Delays by Race and Socioeconomic Status
Author Information
Author(s): J.L. Richardson, B. Langholz, L. Bernstein, C. Burciaga, K. Danley, R.K. Ross
Primary Institution: University of Southern California
Hypothesis
Does race, socioeconomic status, age, and year of diagnosis affect the stage and delay in breast cancer diagnosis?
Conclusion
Lower socioeconomic status, Black or Hispanic ethnicity, younger age, and earlier year of diagnosis are risk factors for late stage diagnosis and longer duration of symptoms.
Supporting Evidence
- Black and Hispanic women are diagnosed with later stage breast cancer and report longer delays in responding to symptoms.
- Lower socioeconomic status is associated with a higher risk of late-stage diagnosis.
- Older age is associated with shorter duration of symptoms before diagnosis.
Takeaway
Some groups of women, like Black and Hispanic women, take longer to get diagnosed with breast cancer, which can make their situation worse.
Methodology
Data from the Cancer Surveillance Program was analyzed, focusing on breast cancer cases diagnosed between 1977 and 1985, categorized by race, socioeconomic status, age, and year of diagnosis.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of ethnicity and socioeconomic status could lead to conservative estimates of differences.
Limitations
The study relied on census tract data for socioeconomic status and used surname to classify Hispanic ethnicity, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 23,567 Non-Hispanic White, 2,539 Black, and 2,380 Hispanic women aged 40 and older.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 1.86-2.07
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
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