Occupational type affects the receipt of breast cancer adjuvant chemotherapy in China

Adjuvant chemotherapy has been demonstrated to improve the prognosis of patients with early-stage breast cancer; however, the high cost and side effects associated with this treatment may discourage patients from receiving it. The present study assessed the candidate factors that may influence decisions regarding postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in females with early-stage breast cancer. Patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between January 2000 and December 2007 were enrolled in the study. Information about the patients, including socio-demographic factors, clinicopathological characteristics and receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy, was obtained from their medical records. Overall, 434 out of 1,296 (33.5%) patients with breast cancer decided against receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Receipt of chemotherapy was significantly associated with the age of the patient at the time of diagnosis (P=0.029), occupational type (P=0.023), and lymph node status (P<0.001). Moderate associations were also observed between receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy and the patients family history of cancer (P=0.055) and hormone-receptor status (P=0.075). The results of the present study suggest that the occupational type of the patient is associated with receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy in China. This observation may provide a novel strategy for physicians to improve patients compliance regarding adjuvant chemotherapy. Further studies in additional developing countries are required in order to validate these observations.