Table 1.
Descriptive Characteristics of Older Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer SEER -Medicare, 2003–2009
| N | % | |
|---|---|---|
| All | 45924 | 100.0 |
| Treatment | ||
| BCS+RT | 25038 | 54.5 |
| Mastectomy | 10755 | 23.4 |
| BCS only | 10131 | 22.1 |
| Year of diagnosis | ||
| 2003 | 6620 | 14.4 |
| 2004 | 6523 | 14.2 |
| 2005 | 6416 | 14.0 |
| 2006 | 6493 | 14.1 |
| 2007 | 6563 | 14.3 |
| 2008 | 6628 | 14.4 |
| 2009 | 6681 | 14.6 |
| Age & health | ||
| Age at diagnosis | ||
| 66–69 | 10319 | 22.5 |
| 70–74 | 11728 | 25.5 |
| 75–79 | 10718 | 23.3 |
| 80–84 | 7974 | 17.4 |
| 85–89 | 3900 | 8.5 |
| ≥ 90 | 1285 | 2.8 |
| Comorbidity score | ||
| 0 | 26024 | 56.7 |
| 1 | 12422 | 27.1 |
| ≥ 2 | 7478 | 16.3 |
| PCP visits | ||
| Low | 24805 | 54.0 |
| High | 21119 | 46.0 |
| Clinical prognostic factors | ||
| Stage at diagnosis | ||
| I | 28884 | 62.9 |
| II | 17040 | 37.1 |
| ER status | ||
| Positive | 36321 | 79.1 |
| Negative | 6298 | 13.7 |
| Borderline/unknown | 3305 | 7.2 |
| PR status | ||
| Positive | 30470 | 66.4 |
| Negative | 11754 | 25.6 |
| Borderline/unknown | 3700 | 8.1 |
| Tumor size | ||
| 0–1 cm | 14837 | 32.3 |
| <2 cm | 18001 | 39.2 |
| 2–5 cm | 12371 | 26.9 |
| >5 cm | 715 | 1.6 |
| Tumor grade | ||
| Well differentiated | 12096 | 26.3 |
| Moderately differentiated | 20024 | 43.6 |
| Poorly differentiated | 10826 | 23.6 |
| Undifferentiated/unknown | 2978 | 6.5 |
| Oncology care resources | ||
| Mammography screening centers | ||
| Low | 23761 | 51.7 |
| High | 22163 | 48.3 |
| Oncology treatment centers | ||
| Low | 25733 | 56.0 |
| High | 20191 | 44.0 |
| Type of surgeon seen | ||
| General only | 8536 | 18.6 |
| Oncology only | 2640 | 5.8 |
| Both | 34748 | 75.7 |
| Socio-demographic characteristics | ||
| Race | ||
| White | 41034 | 89.4 |
| Other | 4890 | 10.7 |
| Education | ||
| <15% college degree | 13543 | 29.5 |
| ≥15% college degree | 32381 | 70.5 |
| Annual income | ||
| ≤$35,000 | 10839 | 23.6 |
| >$35,000 | 35085 | 76.4 |
| Metro status | ||
| Nonmetro | 7673 | 16.7 |
| Metro | 38251 | 83.3 |
BCS, breast-conserving surgery; RT, radiation therapy; PCP, primary care physician; ER, estrogen receptor; PR, progesterone receptor; SEER, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results.