Neighborhood composition and cancer among Hispanics: tumor stage and size at time of diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
We have previously reported that cancer incidence for lung, female breast, and colon and rectum for Hispanics decreases with increasing percentage of Hispanics at the census tract. In contrast, cervical cancer incidence increases with increasing percentage of Hispanics at the census tract.


METHODS
In this study, we investigate the hypothesis that Hispanics living in census tracts with high percentages of Hispanics are diagnosed with more advanced cancer, with respect to tumor size and stage of diagnosis. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry and the U.S. Census Bureau were used to estimate the odds of diagnosis at a "late" stage (II, III, IV) versus "early" stage (I) and breast cancer tumor size among Hispanics as a function of census tract percent Hispanic. Hispanic ethnicity in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was identified by medical record review and Hispanic surname lists. The study also used income of Hispanics living in the census tract and controlled for age at diagnosis and gender.


RESULTS
We found that Hispanics living in neighborhoods with higher density of Hispanic populations were more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer, and to have a larger tumor size of breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the benefits of lower cancer incidence in high tract percent Hispanics are partially offset by poorer access and reduced use of screening in conjunction with lower income, poorer health insurance coverage, and language barriers typical of these communities.
Reyes-Ortiz
Carlos A
CA
School of Public Health, University of North Texas, Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, USA. creyes@hsc.unt.edu
Eschbach
Karl
K
Zhang
Dong D
DD
Goodwin
James S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018426:SEER Program; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology