Ethnicity and birthplace in relation to tumor size and stage in Asian American women with breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether Asian American women with breast cancer have tumor characteristics associated with delayed detection of their disease.


METHODS
Breast cancer size and stage were examined in relation to subjects' ethnic group and birthplace, on the basis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program data.


RESULTS
Asian-born Asian American women with breast cancer had a greater proportion of tumors larger than 1 cm at diagnosis (79%) than did US White women (70%) (P < .001). In contrast, the proportion of tumors larger than 1 cm among Asian American women born in the United States (67%) did not differ significantly from that among US White women.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower utilization of breast cancer screening by Asian-born Asian American women is probably responsible for their greater proportion of tumors larger than 1 cm relative to US White women in the study population. Interventional measures should be taken to increase the use of mammographic screening by first-generation Asian American women.
Hedeen
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AN
Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Wash 98109, USA.
White
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Taylor
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology