Socio-economic deprivation and stage of disease at presentation in women with breast cancer

Background: This study describes and compares the pathological prognostic f actors and surgeon assessment of stage of breast cancer of women living in affluent and deprived areas to assess whether clinical stage at presentatio n may explain the known poorer survival outcomes for deprived women. Patients and methods: A population-based review of the case records of 417 women with breast cancer was carried out. Results: No difference in pathological criteria was found between the 88% o f women living in affluent and deprived areas for whom such data were avail able. Clinical assessment of the remaining 50 cases showed that women livin g in deprived areas were more likely to present with locally advanced or me tastatic disease. Conclusion: The poorer survival of women from deprived areas with breast ca ncer may be explained by more deprived women presenting with advanced cance rs.