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Trends in late-stage breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in blacks and whites
1Connecticut Tumor Registry, Connecticut Department of Public Health, Hartford 06134, USA.
Objective:
This study examined the black-white disparities in diagnosis of late-stage breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, which could change over time, especially in view of changes in the health-care system.
Methods:
Recent trends (1988-95) in stage distribution were examined by age group (<65 and 65+ years) for the geographic areas covered by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program.
Results:
Proportions of breast and cervical (but not colorectal) cancers that were late-stage declined in both races and black-white disparities had narrowed by 1995, especially for patients diagnosed at age 65 years or older. The proportion of breast and cervical cancers that were late stage declined for blacks in counties with a black poverty rate of 20% or higher.
Conclusions:
Some progress toward black-white equity in stage at diagnosis was evident, consistent with reported trends in use of screening tests, but further surveillance and research are needed.