Abstract B33: Female breast cancer in New England: Incidence, mortality, and prevention trends with attention to potential cancer racial/ethnic differences
Authors: Jesus-Monge Wilfredo Eugenio De , Jesus-Monge Vivianna Margarita De 
Published: May 2015

Introduction: Breast cancer is estimated to be the first leading cancer type in incidence and the second leading cancer type in mortality in women in 2011 in the United States (US). In addition to the clinical breast exam, an annual mammogram is recommended as a breast cancer screening test. Cancer racial/ethnic disparities are defined as differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of cancer and related adverse health conditions that exist among specific racial/ethnic population groups in the US. The objectives of this study are: 1) to describe female breast cancer incidence, mortality, and mammogram use annual trends in New England; and 2) to evaluate potential female breast cancer racial/ethnic disparities in New England.

Methods: Age-adjusted invasive breast cancer incidence rates in women were collected for 2004-2008 from the North American Association of Cancer Registries. Age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rates in women were collected for 2002-2006 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mammogram use within the past 2 years, by women age 40+ or 50+, data were collected for 2000-2010 from the CDC.

Results: Invasive female breast cancer shows an increasing incidence trend in Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI), decreasing incidence trend in Maine, and stable incidence trend in Connecticut (CT), New Hampshire (NH), and Vermont. Nationwide, New England states rank among the top 10 US states in invasive female breast cancer incidence rate. In terms of race/ethnicity, non-Hispanic Blacks from RI show an increasing incidence trend of invasive female breast cancer, compared with non-Hispanic Blacks from CT, MA, and US. In addition, there is a decreasing female breast cancer mortality trend in non-Hispanic Whites from NH. The mammogram use analysis shows that VT has the lowest percentage of women having it within the past 2 years in New England and the percentage of women who have had it within the same time period is decreasing in RI. In general, 50+ women have had a mammogram within the past 2 years at a higher percentage than 40+ women.

Conclusions: MA, CT, RI, and NH lead the US states in invasive female breast cancer incidence. These results suggest state or regional-specific conditions that need to be addressed. Further studies of female breast cancer racial/ethnic disparities in New England are needed. Finally, mammogram use increases with age. However, its use should be further encouraged among women in New England.

Funding: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Health-related Research (PI Brian C. Lewis, PhD, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA).

Citation Format: Wilfredo Eugenio De Jesus-Monge, Vivianna Margarita De Jesus-Monge. Female breast cancer in New England: Incidence, mortality, and prevention trends with attention to potential cancer racial/ethnic differences. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Sixth AACR Conference: The Science of Cancer Health Disparities; Dec 6–9, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2014;23(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B33. doi:10.1158/1538-7755.DISP13-B33