There is no difference in survival between African-American and white women with breast cancer

A difference in survival by race in women with breast cancer has been reported. We examined survival of African-American (AA) and white (W) women diagnosed with breast cancer and evaluated variables that may affect survival at a university teaching hospital. A retrospective review of tumor registry data for breast cancer was performed in all AA and W female breast cancer patients diagnosed between the years 1990 and 1999 at a university hospital. Survival between AA and W women diagnosed with breast cancer during that period was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Variables including age and stage of disease at diagnosis, receptor status, treatment, and tobacco exposure were evaluated utilizing Chi-square testing. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 585 AA and W women were diagnosed with breast cancers between the years 1990 and 1999. Mean ages were 51.8 years for AA and 56.9 years for W (P = 0.001). Overall survival (7.8 years AA and 7.6 years W) and survival by stage were not statistically different between the groups. AA patients were younger (P = 0.001), presented with higher-stage tumors (P = 0.017), more often had positive axillary lymph nodes (P = 0.012), more often were estrogen and progesterone receptor negative (P = 0.004), and more often were premenopausal (P = 0.048). AA women were more likely treated with chemotherapy while W women tended to receive hormone therapy (P = 0.01). Statistical significance was not reached for differences in tumor histology or tobacco exposure. We conclude that despite presenting with worse prognostic indicators AA women experience survival equivalent to their W counterparts.