title: A comparison of stage of presentation for pancreatic and colorectal cancer in Pennsylvania 2000-2005.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of this study was to examine how rurality, socioeconomic status (SES) and access to medical care are related to the stage at presentation of patients with colorectal (CRC) and pancreatic cancer (PC) in Pennsylvania.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incident CRC and PC cases were identified from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Demographic, SES, and access variables were collected at the county level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased urbanization, younger age, and male gender were shown to be significantly related to later stage at diagnosis for PC. Age and education level were significant predictors of the rate of PC, while age, education level, insurance status, rurality, and the ratio of oncologists to primary care physicians were significant predictors of the rate of CRC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on county-level data, urban residence, younger age, and male gender were shown to be predictors of later stage at diagnosis for PC. These findings should help guide further research into factors that may be important predictors of later stage of diagnosis.
authors: Department of Public Health Science, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA. Mark.chirumbole@eds.com
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Chirumbole
authors: Niraj
authors: N
authors: Gusani
authors: Alicia
authors: A
authors: Howard
authors: Tim
authors: T
authors: Leonard
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lewis
authors: Josh
authors: J
authors: Muscat
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data