Early-stage breast cancer treatment disparities in the Midsouth: Has anything changed?

Background: We sought to determine if racial disparities in treatment and survival persist among patients with breast cancer in the Midsouth. Methods: Patients with early-stage breast cancer were identified in the tumor registry of a large healthcare system in the Midsouth. Regression analyses were performed to determine how race was associated with receipt of treatment and mortality. Results: Among 4605 patients, 38.8% were Black. Black patients were less likely to undergo surgery (OR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.53-0.97) and receive hormone therapy (OR = 0.81; 95%CI 0.69-0.95) than White patients, but more likely to receive radiation (OR = 1.20; 95%CI 1.08-1.40) and chemotherapy (OR = 1.36; 95%CI 1.16-1.61). Among Black patients, the risk of mortality was lower among those who underwent partial (OR = 0.25; 95%CI 0.12-0.51) or total (OR = 0.35; 95%CI 0.16-0.76) mastectomy and among those who received hormone therapy (OR = 0.62; 95%CI 0.40-0.97). Conclusion: There remains room for improvement in providing treatments that optimize survival among this patient population. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found racial disparities in the treatment and survival of breast cancer patients in the Midsouth. Black patients were less likely to undergo surgery and hormone therapy, but more likely to receive radiation and chemotherapy. Among Black patients, the risk of mortality was lower for those who underwent mastectomy and received hormone therapy.