Breast cancer stage at diagnosis: Caucasians versus Hispanics

In the Department of Defense health care system, all women have the same ability to access health care. Thus, there should be no racial differences in stage at diagnosis solely based on ability to seek health care. A retrospective review of breast cancer cases from 1980-1992 was conducted to determine if there were any differences in stage at diagnosis between Caucasian and Hispanic females. Data was available for 6134 Caucasian and 182 Hispanic females. Although not statistically significant, Hispanic females had fewer Stage I (41% versus 53%) and more Stage IIA (37% versus 28%) breast cancers than Caucasian females. Hispanic females had statistically fewer tumors < or = 1 cm (p < 0.001). Caucasian females were older (median age 58 years) at presentation than Hispanic females (median age 51 years). Significantly (p = 0.002) more Hispanic females (44%) were < 50 years old compared to Caucasian females (28%). When access to care is not an issue, Hispanic females tended to present at a more advanced stage although this did not reach statistical significance. Hispanic females with breast cancer were significantly younger than Caucasian females.