Effect of season and climate on choice of therapy for breast cancer in older women. J Am Geriatr Soc 1995 Sep;43(9):962-6
Date
09/01/1995Pubmed ID
7657935DOI
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1995.tb05558.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0029057060 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 2 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: We and others have previously found a relative underutilization of breast-conserving surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy in older women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Because adjuvant radiotherapy involves daily trips to a facility for 6 weeks, we reasoned that season and climate might influence choice of therapy. Specifically we hypothesized that in northern states, a lower proportion of women would receive breast-conserving surgery plus radiation in the winter months than in summer, whereas in sunbelt states there would be no relationship between season and therapy.
DESIGN: Analysis of national Medicare billing tapes for 1990 and SEER tumor registry data for 1983-1990.
PARTICIPANTS: 43,083 women aged 65 to 79, diagnosed with local or regional breast cancer in 50 states or Washington, DC, who underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery in 1990, and 32,502 women aged 65 to 79 who underwent mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery from 1983 to 1989 at any of the nine SEER sites.
RESULTS: Using a variety of analytical approaches, we could find no consistent effect of cold winter climate on choice of breast cancer therapy.
CONCLUSION: Bad weather does not appear to discourage the choice of breast-conserving treatment. It is not known if bad weather influences actual receipt of radiotherapy.
Author List
Goodwin JS, Nattinger ABAuthor
Ann B. Nattinger MD, MPH Associate Provost, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAttitude to Health
Breast Neoplasms
Climate
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Mastectomy, Segmental
Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
SEER Program
Seasons
United States
