Outcomes of Breast Cancer Patients by Race and Ethnicity

Breast cancer is one of the most common diagnosed cancers among women in the USA. Many different factors can influence a patient's outcome with breast cancer. This study aimed to understand the differences in mortality among different racial and ethnic groups, in particular, the differences in mortality in minority racial and ethnic groups (such as Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander).

The racial and ethnic groups included non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic American Indian/American Native, non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, and Hispanic. Data collected from the National Cancer Database were analyzed, including close to 2 million patients. Among all the cohorts, time to diagnosis/treatment, use of chemotherapy/antihormone therapy, stage, grade, and lymph node status were analyzed.

A higher stage and positive lymph nodes at diagnosis were associated with a higher risk of mortality. In contrast, the use of chemotherapy and antihormone therapy was associated with reduced risk of mortality. Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander had the highest 10-year survival. Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander women had a 32% less risk of mortality from any cause than non-Hispanic White women. Data showed that Non-Hispanic Black women had a higher risk of mortality from any cause than the non-Hispanic White women.

Among all of the patients represented in the dataset, the mortality varied by race and ethnicity. The stage, time to treatment, and use of chemotherapy and/or antihormone therapy influenced mortality. The differences in mortality by race and ethnicity suggest opportunities for research to further evaluate socioeconomic factors that could possibly influence cancer prognosis and survival.