Patterns of Breast, Cervical, Colorectal, and Prostate Cancer in the Appalachian Region of South Carolina

• Published in: Ethnicity & disease 2001, Vol.11 (1), p.51-59
• Main Authors: Spitler, Hugh D., Mayo, Rachel M., Parker, Veronica G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Appalachian Region; Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology; Colonic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; North Carolina - epidemiology; Original Reports: Epidemiology/Cancer; Prostatic Neoplasms - epidemiology; Rectal Neoplasms - epidemiology; Registries; Rural Population; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1049-510X; 1945-0826

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between demographic factors and other correlates of late stage diagnoses among residents in the Appalachian region of South Carolina. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional study design. Methods: Regional data from 4,928 prostate, breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer registry cases were examined as part of a statewide pilot registry effort. Frequencies and logistic regression procedures were performed to compute risk estimates for non-local stage of diagnosis across all four cancers, and for each of the four cancers by age and race. Results: African Americans were 1.6 times more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with a non-local stage of cancer. For breast and prostate cancer, those 65 and older were significantly more likely to receive non-local state stage of diagnosis than those under 50. For cervical cancer, the odds of receiving a non-local stage diagnosis declined with advancing age, with those over 65 being significantly less likely than those under 50 to receive non-local stage diagnoses. Conclusions: It is necessary to identify sub-populations experiencing high rates of non-local stage diagnoses of cancer to form the basis for the development of more effective cancer prevention and treatment programs.