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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- When it comes to breast cancer, the color of ones skin may predict a difference in outcome. More and more research shows black women have higher rates of death from breast cancer than white women. A new study finds these differences still remain, but researchers say they are partly due to insurance type.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of death among women. Researchers from the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada reviewed and analyzed demographic, socioeconomic and medical data from 651 women diagnosed with breast cancer. They wanted to evaluate the role of race in breast cancer treatment after looking at other factors including comorbidities, socioeconomic status and health insurance status.
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The research reveals blacks were less likely to have adjuvant cancer therapy than white women when the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. They also say white women were five-times more likely to take Tamoxifen and three times more likely to have chemotherapy than black women. Study authors looked at women who had government health insurance and found they were less likely to have combination breast conserving cancer surgery and radiation and more likely to have mastectomy without radiation than patients with non-governmental plans.
Researchers say while there are differences between black and white women when it comes to breast cancer therapy, sometimes these difference are due to insurance, not race. However, they say this study could help in creating intervention programs for black women to improve the use of adjuvant therapies.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Cancer, published online October 8, 2007
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