Women with breast cancer in the Veterans Health Administration: demographics, breast cancer characteristics, and trends

Medical Care
Sarah ColonnaCarol Sweeney

Abstract

An increasing number of women are being cared for within the Veterans Health Administration (VA). However, the demographics and trends of women with breast cancer at the VA has not been documented. We describe the demographics and breast cancer characteristics of the 4445 women enrolled in the VA and reported to the Department of Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry diagnosed with breast cancer from 1995 to 2012. The cases of breast cancer per year increased over time to 365 in 2012. Black women represented only 16% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the VA in 1995-1999 but increased to 25% by 2010-2012 (P<0.001). The median age at diagnosis in 1995-1999 was 58.4 and decreased to 56.8 by 2010-2012 (P<0.02). The fraction of breast cancers that were node negative was 45% in 1995-1999 and increased to 64% in 2010-2012; correspondingly, women presented at an earlier stage in more recent years (P<0.001). Urban women with breast cancer cared for within the VA are more likely to be younger (P=0.04) and nonwhite (P<0.001) compared with rural women, but the breast tumor characteristics appear similar. Oncology physicians at the VA must be prepared to care for breast cancer among women as the number of cases is growing. With on...Continue Reading

References

Apr 29, 2000·Annals of Internal Medicine·N A Bickell, M R Chassin
Jun 6, 2002·Journal of the National Cancer Institute·Jennifer L MalinPatricia A Ganz
Dec 6, 2003·Women & Health·Paige OuimetteKristian Gima
Nov 17, 2005·Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs·Carmen N WestKaren M Emmons
Jun 20, 2006·Cancer Causes & Control : CCC·Scarlett L Gomez, Sally L Glaser
Oct 24, 2006·Women's Health Issues : Official Publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health·Elizabeth M YanoDonna L Washington
Oct 17, 2007·Journal of Women's Health·Susan M FrayneCiaran S Phibbs
Nov 16, 2007·Journal of Women's Health·Bevanne Bean-MayberrySarah Hudson Scholle
Nov 15, 2008·The Journal of Rural Health : Official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association·William B WeeksKara Hawthorne
Jun 27, 2012·Military Medicine·Leah L ZulligMichael J Kelley
Nov 23, 2012·The New England Journal of Medicine·Archie Bleyer, H Gilbert Welch
Jan 21, 2014·Women's Health Issues : Official Publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health·Kristin M MattocksLori A Bastian
Apr 3, 2014·The Journal of Rural Health : Official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association·Preethy NayarBettye Apenteng
Apr 3, 2014·The Journal of Rural Health : Official Journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association·Elizabeth BrooksJay Shore

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 16, 2017·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Elisheva R DananTimothy J Wilt
Jun 20, 2018·Journal of Women's Health·Leah L ZulligMichael J Kelley

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.