Racial disparities in disease-specific mortality and surgical management of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Given persistent racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes, this study explores racial differences in disease-specific mortality and surgical management among patients with microinvasive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS-MI). METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program was queried for patients aged 18+ years with DCIS-MI between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018. The study cohort was divided into non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients. Disease-specific mortality was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 3400 patients were identified, of which 569 (16.7%) were NHB and 2831 (83.3%) were NHW. Compared with NHW patients, NHB patients had more positive lymph nodes (7.6% vs. 3.9% p < 0.001). In addition, NHB women were more likely to undergo axillary lymph node dissection (6.0% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.044) and receive chemotherapy (11.8% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001). There were no racial differences in breast surgery type (p = 0.168), reconstructive surgery (p = 0.362), or radiation therapy (p = 0.342). Overall, NHB patients had worse disease-specific mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-4.14) with mortality risks diverging from NHW women after 3 years (6 years rate ratio [RR] 2.12, 95% CI: 1.13-4.34; 9 years RR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.24-4.35). CONCLUSIONS: NHB women with DCIS-MI present with higher nodal disease burden and experience worse disease-specific mortality than NHW women.

Receipt of mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy following breast conserving surgery (BCS) in New Zealand women with BCS-eligible breast cancer, 2010-2015: an observational study focusing on ethnic differences.

BACKGROUND: Women with early breast cancer who meet guideline-based criteria should be offered breast conserving surgery (BCS) with adjuvant radiotherapy as an alternative to mastectomy. New Zealand (NZ) has documented ethnic disparities in screening access and in breast cancer treatment pathways. This study aimed to determine whether, among BCS-eligible women, rates of receipt of mastectomy or radiotherapy differed by ethnicity and other factors. METHODS: The study assessed management of women with early breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] and invasive stages I-IIIA) registered between 2010 and 2015, extracted from the recently consolidated New Zealand Breast Cancer Registry (now Te Rehita Mate Utaetae NZBCF National Breast Cancer Register). Specific criteria were applied to determine women eligible for BCS. Uni- and multivariable analyses were undertaken to examine differences by demographic and clinicopathological factors with a primary focus on ethnicity (Maori, Pacific, Asian, and Other; the latter is defined as NZ European, Other European, and Middle Eastern Latin American and African). RESULTS: Overall 22.2% of 5520 BCS-eligible women were treated with mastectomy, and 91.1% of 3807 women who undertook BCS received adjuvant radiotherapy (93.5% for invasive cancer, and 78.3% for DCIS). Asian ethnicity was associated with a higher mastectomy rate in the invasive cancer group (OR 2.18; 95%CI 1.72-2.75), compared to Other ethnicity, along with older age, symptomatic diagnosis, advanced stage, larger tumour, HER2-positive, and hormone receptor-negative groups. Pacific ethnicity was associated with a lower adjuvant radiotherapy rate, compared to Other ethnicity, in both invasive and DCIS groups, along with older age, symptomatic diagnosis, and lower grade tumour in the invasive group. Both mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy rates decreased over time. For those who did not receive radiotherapy, non-referral by a clinician was the most common documented reason (8%), followed by patient decline after being referred (5%). CONCLUSION: Rates of radiotherapy use are high by international standards. Further research is required to understand differences by ethnicity in both rates of mastectomy and lower rates of radiotherapy after BCS for Pacific women, and the reasons for non-referral by clinicians.

Computer Vision Identifies Recurrent and Nonrecurrent Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Lesions with Special Emphasis on African-American Women.

Although nonrecurrent and recurrent forms of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast are observed, no evidence-based test can make this distinction. The current retrospective case-control study used archival DCIS samples stained with anti-phospho-Ser226-glucose transporter type 1 and anti-phosphofructokinase type L antibodies. Immunofluorescence micrographs were used to create machine learning models of recurrent and nonrecurrent biomarker patterns, which were evaluated in cross-validation studies. Clinical performance was assessed by holdout studies using patients whose data were not used in training. Micrographs were stratified according to the recurrence probability of each image. Recurrent patients were defined by at least one image with a probability of recurrence ≥98%, whereas nonrecurrent patients had none. These studies found no false-negatives, identified true-positives, and uniquely identified true-negatives. Roughly 20% of the microscope fields of recurrent lesions were computationally recurrent. Strong prognostic results were obtained for both white and African-American women. This machine tool provides the first means to accurately predict recurrent and nonrecurrent patient outcomes. Data indicate that at least some false-positive findings were true-positive findings that benefited from surgical intervention. The intracellular locations of phospho-Ser226-glucose transporter type 1 and phosphofructokinase type L likely participate in cancer recurrences by accelerating glucose flux, a key feature of the Warburg effect.

Metals and Breast Cancer Risk: A Prospective Study Using Toenail Biomarkers.

The role of metals in breast cancer is of interest because of their carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting capabilities. Evidence from epidemiologic studies remains elusive, and prior studies have not investigated metal mixtures. In a case cohort nested within the Sister Study (enrolled in 2003-2009; followed through September 2017), we measured concentrations of 15 metals in toenails collected at enrollment in a race/ethnicity-stratified sample of 1,495 cases and a subcohort of 1,605 women. We estimated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for each metal using Cox regression and robust variance. We used quantile g-computation to estimate the joint association between multiple metals and breast cancer risk. The average duration of follow-up was 7.5 years. There was little evidence supporting an association between individual metals and breast cancer. An exception was molybdenum, which was associated with reduced incidence of overall breast cancer risk (third tertile vs. first tertile: hazard ratio = 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.67, 1.00). An inverse association for antimony was observed among non-Hispanic Black women. Predefined groups of metals (all metals, nonessential metals, essential metals, and metalloestrogens) were not strongly associated with breast cancer. This study offers little support for metals, individually or as mixtures, as risk factors for breast cancer. Mechanisms for inverse associations with some metals warrant further study.

Comparison of the ductal carcinoma in situ between White Americans and Chinese Americans.

ABSTRACT: Currently, the wide-spread use of screening mammography has led to dramatic increases in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). However, DCIS of Chinese Americans, the largest Asian subgroup in American, has rarely been comprehensively studied over the past decade. This work compared the DCIS characteristics and prognosis of Chinese American patients with White Americans in the USA to determine the characteristics and prognosis of DCIS patients of Chinese Americans.The data were obtained using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. The diagnosis and treatment variables between the two groups were compared by means of Chi-square tests. Survival was determined with the use of the Kaplan-Meier method and the multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model.From 1975 to 2016, 81,745 White Americans and 2069 Chinese Americans were diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. Compared with the white patients, the Chinese Americans were younger (P < .001) with smaller tumors (P < .001) and higher family income (P < .001). DCIS patients of Chinese American group accounted for a higher percentage of all breast cancers than the whites (P < .001). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, Chinese American was an independent favorable prognostic factor in terms of overall survival (OS) (HR, 0.684; 95% CI, 0.593-0.789; P < .001) compared with the white group.In conclusion, DCIS characteristics of the Chinese group, which exhibited a higher proportion of younger age, a higher DCIS ratio, and a better prognosis, were distinct from those of the White Americans.

The predictive value of calcification for the grading of ductal carcinoma in situ in Chinese patients.

High-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) requires resection due to the high risk of developing invasive breast cancer. The predictive powers of noninvasive predictors for high-grade DCIS remain contradictory. This study aimed to explore the predictive value of calcification for high-grade DCIS in Chinese patients.This was a retrospective study of Chinese DCIS patients recruited from the Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University between January and December 2018. The patients were divided into calcification and non-calcification groups based on the mammography results. The correlation of calcification with the pathologic stage of DCIS was evaluated using the multivariable analysis. The predictive value of calcification for DCIS grading was examined using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.The pathologic grade of DCIS was not associated with calcification morphology (P = .902), calcification distribution (P = .252), or breast density (P = .188). The multivariable analysis showed that the presence of calcification was independently associated with high pathologic grade of DCIS (OR = 3.206, 95% CI = 1.315-7.817, P = .010), whereas the age, hypertension, menopause, and mammography BI-RADS were not (all P > .05) associated with the grade of DCIS. The ROC analysis of the predictive value of calcification for DCIS grading showed that the area under the curve was 0.626 (P = .019), with a sensitivity of 73.1%, specificity of 52.2%, positive predictive value of 72.2%, and negative predictive value of 53.3%.The presence of calcification is independently associated with high pathologic grade of DCIS and could predict high-grade DCIS in Chinese patients.

Do Histopathology and Clinical Outcomes of Breast Atypia Vary by Race/Ethnicity?

BACKGROUND: The clinical behavior of breast cancer varies by racial and ethnic makeup (REM), but the impact of REM on the clinical outcomes of breast atypia remains understudied. We examined the impact of REM on risk of underlying or subsequent carcinoma following a diagnosis of breast atypia. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-institution chart review, adult women diagnosed with breast atypia (atypical ductal hyperplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia, or lobular carcinoma in situ) were stratified by REM. Regression modeling was used to estimate risk of underlying or subsequent carcinoma. RESULTS: We identified 539 patients with breast atypia, including 15 Hispanic (2.8%), 127 non-Hispanic black (23.6%), and 397 non-Hispanic white women (73.7%). Diagnoses included 75.1% atypical ductal hyperplasia (n = 405), 4.6% atypical lobular hyperplasia (n = 25), and 20.2% lobular carcinoma in situ (n = 109). Rates for each type of atypia did not vary by REM (P = 0.33). Of those with atypia on needle biopsy, the rate of underlying carcinoma at excision was 17.3%. After adjustment, REM was not associated with greater risk for carcinoma at excision (P = 0.41). Of those with atypia alone on surgical excision, the rate of a subsequent carcinoma diagnosis was 15.4% (median follow-up 49 mo). REM was not associated with a long-term risk for carcinoma (P = 0.37) or differences in time to subsequent carcinoma (log-rank P = 0.52). Chemoprevention uptake rates were low (10.6%), especially among Hispanic (0%) and non-Hispanic black (3.8%) patients (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atypia, REM does not appear to influence type of histologic atypia, risk for carcinoma, or clinical outcome, despite differences in chemoprevention rates.

Risk factors for estrogen receptor positive ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast in African American women.

BACKGROUND: Compared to U.S. white women, African American women are more likely to die from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Elucidation of risk factors for DCIS in African American women may provide opportunities for risk reduction. METHODS: We used data from three epidemiologic studies in the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium to study risk factors for estrogen receptor (ER) positive DCIS (488 cases; 13,830 controls). Results were compared to associations observed for ER+ invasive breast cancer (n = 2,099). RESULTS: First degree family history of breast cancer was associated with increased risk of ER+ DCIS [odds ratio (OR): 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31, 2.17]. Oral contraceptive use within the past 10 years (vs. never) was also associated with increased risk (OR: 1.43, 95%CI: 1.03, 1.97), as was late age at first birth (≥25 years vs. <20 years) (OR: 1.26, 95%CI: 0.96, 1.67). Risk was reduced in women with older age at menarche (≥15 years vs. <11 years) (OR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.93) and higher body mass index (BMI) in early adulthood (≥25 vs. <20 kg/m2 at age 18 or 21) (OR: 0.75, 95%CI: 0.55, 1.01). There was a positive association of recent BMI with risk in postmenopausal women only. In general, associations of risk factors for ER+ DCIS were similar in magnitude and direction to those for invasive ER+ breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that most risk factors for invasive ER+ breast cancer are also associated with increased risk of ER+ DCIS among African American women.

Performance measures among non-immigrants and immigrants attending BreastScreen Norway: a population-based screening programme.

OBJECTIVES: To explore performance measures among non-immigrants and immigrants attending BreastScreen Norway. METHODS: We analysed data from 2,951,375 screening examinations among non-immigrants and 153,026 among immigrants from 1996 to 2015. Immigrants were categorised into high- and low-incidence countries according to the incidence of breast cancer in their birth country. Performance measures, including attendance and recall rates, rates of screen-detected cancer (SDC) and interval breast cancer (IBC), positive predictive value (PPV) and histopathological tumour characteristics, were analysed. We used Fisher's exact model and t tests for descriptive statistics, and Poisson regression, adjusting for age and screening history, comparing results for non-immigrants versus immigrants. RESULTS: Attendance rates were 78% for non-immigrants and 56% for immigrants (p < 0.001). Rates of prevalent screens were 24% for non-immigrants and 32% for immigrants (p < 0.001). Immigrants from low-incidence countries were younger at diagnosis than non-immigrants (57 years versus 60 years, p < 0.001). Recall rates were 3.1% for non-immigrants and 3.8% for immigrants (p < 0.001), while PPVs were 17% and 14% (p < 0.001), respectively. IBCs in immigrants from low-incidence countries were more often triple negative (RRadj 1.81, 95% CI 1.11-2.94) than those in non-immigrants. Both SDC and IBC in immigrants from low-incidence countries tended more often to be histological grade 3 than those in non-immigrants. CONCLUSION: Immigrants had lower attendance rates, higher recall rates and lower PPV than non-immigrants. The optimal age range and screening interval for immigrant women from low-incidence countries need to be further investigated. KEY POINTS: • Immigrants from countries with a low incidence of breast cancer had their breast cancer diagnosed at a younger age than non-immigrants. • Interval breast cancers detected in immigrants from countries with a low incidence of breast cancers were more often triple negative than those in non-immigrants. • The optimal age range and screening interval for immigrant women from low-incidence countries and non-immigrants might differ.

Understanding Disparities in Breast Cancer Care in Memphis, Tennessee.

Although significant progress has been made in improving breast cancer survival, disparities among racial, ethnic, and underserved groups still exist. The goal of this investigation is to quantify racial disparities in the context of breast cancer care, examining the outcomes of recurrence and mortality in the city of Memphis. Patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of breast cancer from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2012, were obtained from the tumor registry. Black patients were more likely to have advanced (II, III, or IV) clinical stage of breast cancer at diagnosis versus white patients. Black breast cancer patients had a two times higher odds of recurrence (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 3.0) after adjusting for race and clinical stage. Black breast cancer patients were 1.5 times more likely to die (95% confidence interval: 1.2, 1.8), after adjusting for race; age at diagnosis; clinical stage; ER, PR, HER2 status; and recurrence. Black women with stages 0, I, II, and III breast cancer all had a statistically significant longer median time from diagnosis to surgery than white women. Black patients were more likely to have advanced clinical stages of breast cancer at diagnosis versus white patients on a citywide level in Memphis. Black breast cancer patients have higher odds of recurrence and mortality when compared with white breast cancer patients, after adjusting for appropriate demographic and clinical attributes. More work is needed to develop, evaluate, and disseminate interventions to decrease inequities in timeliness of care for breast cancer patients.

Low rate of positive margins and re-excision after partial mastectomy in highly selected breast cancer patients: A Chinese single-institution experience.

A recent randomized controlled trial firstly demonstrated that cavity shaving significantly decreased the rate of positive margins and re-excision among partial mastectomy (PM) patients. However, it remains unknown whether cavity shaving should be routinely applied to Chinese breast cancer patients undergoing PM. A total of 408 PM patients undergoing 410 PMs among 1796 surgically treated breast cancer patients at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre from January 2015 to June 2015 were included in our study. Data were analysed with univariate or multivariate analysis. Overall, 11 of 410 cases (2.7%) had positive margins postoperatively. Moreover, only 24.6% of the cases (P<0.05) presented with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), among whom 10.0% obtained positive margins. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, presence of mammographic calcifications was significantly associated with margin positivity (P<0.05, OR=6.06, 95% CI: 1.53-23.91). In conclusion, cavity shaving during PM should not be routinely performed in Chinese breast cancer patients, particularly in highly selected cases with a low prevalence of DCIS. PM patients with preoperative mammographic calcifications were more likely to have positive margins and might benefit more from cavity shaving.

Excising Additional Margins at Initial Breast-Conserving Surgery (BCS) Reduces the Need for Re-excision in a Predominantly African American Population: A Report of a Randomized Prospective Study in a Public Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Margin status is an important prognostic factor for local recurrence after breast conserving surgery (BCS) for breast cancer. We designed a prospective randomized trial to evaluate the effect of shave margins on positive margins and locoregional recurrence (LRR). METHODS: Patients were randomized to BCS or BCS with resection of 5 additional margins (BCS + M). Tumor margins were classified as negative [>2 mm for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); >1 mm for invasive carcinoma] based on guidelines at the time of accrual. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients with stage 0-III breast cancer (76 samples) were randomized, mean age 59.6 years with median follow-up 39.5 months. Overall, 21 patients (27.6 %) had positive margins: 14 had undergone BCS and 7 BCS + M (p = 0.005). Of the 21 patients with positive margins, 19 had DCIS on final pathology (OR 7.56; 95 % CI 1.52-37.51).All patients with positive margins were offered re-excision; 11 had negative final margins after re-excision surgery. Overall, 6 patients (8.3 %) developed LRR with recurrence being more common in the BCS group when compared with the BCS + M group (17.2 vs 2.3 %; p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Taking additional cavity shave margins at the time of initial excision resulted in a reduction in positive margin rate, a decrease in return to operating room for re-excision, and lower LRR.

Trends in Treatment Patterns and Outcomes for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

BACKGROUND: Impact of contemporary treatment of pre-invasive breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS]) on long-term outcomes remains poorly defined. We aimed to evaluate national treatment trends for DCIS and to determine their impact on disease-specific (DSS) and overall survival (OS). METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry was queried for patients diagnosed with DCIS from 1991 to 2010. Treatment pattern trends were analyzed using Cochran-Armitage trend test. Survival analyses were performed using inverse probability weights (IPW)-adjusted competing risk analyses for DSS and Cox proportional hazard regression for OS. All tests performed were two-sided. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-one thousand and eighty DCIS patients were identified. The greatest proportion of patients was treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy (43.0%), followed by lumpectomy alone (26.5%) and unilateral (23.8%) or bilateral mastectomy (4.5%) with significant shifts over time. The rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy increased from 9.7% to 67.1% for mastectomy and from 1.4% to 17.8% for lumpectomy. Compared with mastectomy, OS was higher for lumpectomy with radiation (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76 to 0.83, P < .001) and lower for lumpectomy alone (HR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.13 to 1.23, P < .001). IPW-adjusted ten-year DSS was highest in lumpectomy with XRT (98.9%), followed by mastectomy (98.5%), and lumpectomy alone (98.4%). CONCLUSIONS: We identified substantial shifts in treatment patterns for DCIS from 1991 to 2010. When outcomes between locoregional treatment options were compared, we observed greater differences in OS than DSS, likely reflecting both a prevailing patient selection bias as well as clinically negligible differences in breast cancer outcomes between groups.

Breast Cancer Mortality After a Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

IMPORTANCE: Women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or stage 0 breast cancer, often experience a second primary breast cancer (DCIS or invasive), and some ultimately die of breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the 10- and 20-year mortality from breast cancer following a diagnosis of DCIS and to establish whether the mortality rate is influenced by age at diagnosis, ethnicity, and initial treatment received. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Observational study of women who received a diagnosis of DCIS from 1988 to 2011 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registries database. Age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, pathologic features, date of second primary breast cancer, cause of death, and survival were abstracted for 108,196 women. Their risk of dying of breast cancer was compared with that of women in the general population. Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for death from DCIS by age at diagnosis, clinical features, ethnicity, and treatment. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Ten- and 20-year breast cancer-specific mortality. RESULTS: Among the 108 196 women with DCIS, the mean (range) age at diagnosis of DCIS was 53.8 (15-69) years and the mean (range) duration of follow-up was 7.5 (0-23.9) years. At 20 years, the breast cancer-specific mortality was 3.3% (95% CI, 3.0%-3.6%) overall and was higher for women who received a diagnosis before age 35 years compared with older women (7.8% vs 3.2%; HR, 2.58 [95% CI, 1.85-3.60]; P < .001) and for blacks compared with non-Hispanic whites (7.0% vs 3.0%; HR, 2.55 [95% CI, 2.17-3.01]; P < .001). The risk of dying of breast cancer increased after experience of an ipsilateral invasive breast cancer (HR, 18.1 [95% CI, 14.0-23.6]; P < .001). A total of 517 patients died of breast cancer following a DCIS diagnosis (mean follow-up, 7.5 [range, 0-23.9] years) without experiencing an in-breast invasive cancer prior to death. Among patients who received lumpectomy, radiotherapy was associated with a reduction in the risk of ipsilateral invasive recurrence at 10 years (2.5% vs 4.9%; adjusted HR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.42-0.53]; P < .001) but not of breast cancer-specific mortality at 10 years (0.8% vs 0.9%; HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.67-1.10]; P = .22). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Important risk factors for death from breast cancer following a DCIS diagnosis include age at diagnosis and black ethnicity. The risk of death increases after a diagnosis of an ipsilateral second primary invasive breast cancer, but prevention of these recurrences by radiotherapy does not diminish breast cancer mortality at 10 years.

Minimising unnecessary mastectomies in a predominantly Chinese community.

BACKGROUND: Recent data shows that the use of breast conservation treatment (BCT) for breast cancer may result in superior outcomes when compared with mastectomy. However, reported rates of BCT in predominantly Chinese populations are significantly lower than those reported in Western countries. Low BCT rates may now be a concern as they may translate into suboptimal outcomes. A study was undertaken to evaluate BCT rates in a cohort of predominantly Chinese women. METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery on the breast at the authors' healthcare facility between October 2008 and December 2011 were included in the study and outcomes of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 171 patients were analysed. Two-thirds of the patients were of Chinese ethnicity. One hundred and fifty-six (85.9%) underwent BCT. Ninety-eight of 114 Chinese women (86%) underwent BCT. There was no difference in the proportion of women undergoing BCT based on ethnicity. After a median of 49 months of follow-up, three patients (1.8%) had local recurrence and 5 patients (2.9%) suffered distant metastasis. Four patients (2.3%) have died from their disease. CONCLUSION: BCT rates exceeding 80% in a predominantly Chinese population are possible with acceptable local and distant control rates, thereby minimising unnecessary mastectomies.

Treatment delay for Maori women with breast cancer in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: To identify differences in delay for surgical treatment of breast cancer between ethnic groups and to evaluate the role of health system, sociodemographic and tumour factors in ethnic inequities in breast cancer treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the Waikato Breast Cancer Register for cancers diagnosed in the Waikato region in New Zealand (NZ) from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2010. RESULTS: Approximately 95% (1449 out of 1514) of women with breast cancer diagnosed in the Waikato over the study period were included. Of women undergoing primary surgery (n = 1264), 59.6% and 98.2% underwent surgery within 31 and 90 days of diagnosis, respectively. Compared with NZ European women (mean 30.4 days), significantly longer delays for surgical treatment were observed among Maori (mean = 37.1 days, p = 0.005) and Pacific women (mean = 42.8 days, p = 0.005). Maori women were more likely to experience delays longer than 31 (p = 0.048) and 90 days (p = 0.286) compared with NZ European women. Factors predicting delays longer than 31 and 90 days in the multivariable model included public sector treatment (OR 5.93, 8.14), DCIS (OR 1.53, 3.17), mastectomy (OR 1.75, 6.60), higher co-morbidity score (OR 2.02, 1.02) and earlier year of diagnosis (OR 1.21, 1.03). Inequities in delay between Maori and NZ European women were greatest for women under 50 years and those older than 70 years. CONCLUSION: This study shows that significant inequities in timely access to surgical treatment for breast cancer exist in NZ, with Maori and Pacific women having to wait longer to access treatment than NZ European women. Overall, a high proportion of women did not receive surgical treatment for breast cancer within the guideline limit of 31 days. Urgent steps are needed to reduce ethnic inequities in timely access to breast cancer treatment, and to shorten treatment delays in the public sector for all women.

Racial differences in breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality among women with ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast represents 15-20% of new breast cancer diagnoses in the US annually. However, long-term competing risks of mortality, as well as racial differences in outcomes among US women with DCIS, are unknown. Case data from the years 1978-2010 were obtained using SEER*Stat software available through the National Cancer Institute from the 2010 SEER registries. Included were all women aged 40 and over with newly diagnosed DCIS. There were 67,514 women in the analysis, including 54,518 white women and 6,113 black women. A total of 12,173 deaths were observed over 607,287 person-years of follow-up. The 20-year cumulative incidence of all-cause death among women with DCIS was 39.6% (CI 38.9-40.3). The corresponding 20-year rates for breast cancer death and CVD death were 3.2% (CI 3.0-3.4) and 13.2% (CI 12.8-13.7), respectively. Black women with DCIS had a higher risk of death compared to white women, with these hazard ratios elevated throughout the entire study period. For example, between 1990 and 2010, black women had a higher risk of all-cause death (HR 3.06, CI 2.39-3.91), breast cancer death (HR 5.78, CI 3.16-10.57), and CVD death (HR 6.43, CI 3.61-11.45) compared to white women diagnosed between 50 and 59 years of age. The risk of all-cause and CVD death was greater than breast cancer death among women diagnosed with DCIS over 20 years. Black women had higher risks of dying from all-causes compared to white women. These differences persisted into the modern treatment era.

Satisfaction with treatment decision-making and treatment regret among Latinas and non-Latina whites with DCIS.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in treatment decision-making participation, satisfaction, and regret among Latinas and non-Latina whites with DCIS. METHODS: Survey of Latina and non-Latina white women diagnosed with DCIS. We assessed women's preferences for involvement in decision-making, primary treatment decision maker, and participatory decision-making. We examined primary outcomes of satisfaction with treatment decision-making and treatment regret by ethnic-language group. RESULTS: Among 745 participants (349 Latinas, 396 white) Spanish-speaking Latinas (SSL) had the highest mean preference for involvement in decision-making score and the lowest mean participatory decision-making score and were more likely to defer their final treatment decision to their physicians than English-speaking Latinas or whites (26%, 13%, 18%, p<0.05). SSLs reported lower satisfaction with treatment decision-making (OR 0.4; CI 95%, 0.2-0.8) and expressed more regret than whites (OR 6.2; CI 95%, 3.0-12.4). More participatory decision-making increased the odds of satisfaction (OR 1.5; CI 95%, 1.3-1.8) and decreased the odds of treatment regret (OR 0.8; CI 95%, 0.7-1.0), independent of ethnicity-language. CONCLUSION: Language barriers impede the establishment of decision-making partnerships between Latinas and their physicians, and result in less satisfaction with the decision-making process and more treatment regret. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Use of professional interpreters may address communication-related disparities for these women.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): posttreatment follow-up care among Latina and non-Latina White women.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of information about posttreatment care among patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). This study compares posttreatment care by ethnicity-language and physician specialty among Latina and White women with DCIS. METHODS: Latina and White women diagnosed with DCIS between 2002 and 2005 identified through the California Cancer Registry completed a telephone survey in 2006. Main outcomes were breast surveillance, lifestyle counseling, and follow-up physician specialty. KEY RESULTS: Of 742 women (396 White, 349 Latinas), most (90 %) had at least one clinical breast exam (CBE). Among women treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS; N = 503), 76 % had received at least two mammograms. While 92 % of all women had follow-up with a breast specialist, Spanish-speaking Latinas had the lowest specialist follow-up rates (84 %) of all groups. Lifestyle counseling was low with only 53 % discussing exercise, 43 % weight, and 31 % alcohol in relation to their DCIS. In multivariable analysis, Spanish-speaking Latinas with BCS had lower odds of receiving the recommended mammography screening in the year following treatment compared to Whites (OR 0.5; 95 % CI, 0.2-0.9). Regardless of ethnicity-language, seeing both a specialist and primary care physician increased the odds of mammography screening and CBE (OR 1.6; 95 % CI, 1.2-2.3 and OR 1.9; 95 % CI, 1.3-2.8), as well as having discussions about exercise, weight, and alcohol use, compared to seeing a specialist only. CONCLUSIONS: Most women reported appropriate surveillance after DCIS treatment. However, our results suggest less adequate follow-up for Spanish-speaking Latinas, possibly due to language barriers or insurance access. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Follow-up with a primary care provider in addition to a breast specialist increases receipt of appropriate follow-up for all women.

Quality of life of Latina and Euro-American women with ductal carcinoma in situ.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for psychosocial distress following a breast cancer diagnosis include younger age, history of depression, inadequate social support, and serious comorbid conditions. Although these quality of life (QOL) concerns have been studied in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), Latina women have been understudied. METHODS: Data were from a cross-sectional telephone survey of Latina and Euro-American women with DCIS recruited through a population-based cancer registry. The sample included 396 Euro-American women and 349 Latina women; 156 were interviewed in English and 193 in Spanish, with a median of 2 years after diagnosis. Regression models were created for measures in each of the following four QOL domains: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. RESULTS: Younger age, no partner, and lower income were related to lower QOL in various domains. Physical comorbidities were associated with lower physical, psychological, and social QOL; lingering effects of surgery and prior depression were associated with lower QOL in all domains. English-speaking and Spanish-speaking Latinas (SSLs) reported higher spiritual QOL, and SSLs reported lower social QOL than Euro-American women. CONCLUSIONS: Despite having lower mortality, women with DCIS are treated with surgery and radiation therapy as if they have invasive cancer, and the aftereffects of treatment can impact their QOL. SSLs are at risk for lower QOL partly because of poverty. However, Latinas' greater spiritual QOL may mitigate some of the psychological and social effects of treatment. IMPLICATIONS: It is important to incorporate these findings into treatment decision making (choice of surgical treatment) and survivorship care (monitoring women with a history of depression or physical comorbidity).