The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Stage at Diagnosis and Survival in Young Breast Cancer Patients. Clin Breast Cancer 2026 Jan;26(1):87-99
Date
12/20/2025Pubmed ID
41418446Pubmed Central ID
PMC12884870DOI
10.1016/j.clbc.2025.11.008Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105025105707 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 2 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Women of low socioeconomic status (SES) are at increased risk for being diagnosed with later stage breast cancer and experience poorer survival. However, younger women, especially women under 40, are underrepresented in breast cancer research given screening mammography is not recommended until age 40. How SES impacts stage at diagnosis and survival rates in women under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer has not been addressed.
METHODS: Data was obtained from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)*Stat Research Plus Census Tract Attributes Specialty Database, including 27 unique variables representing patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. Proportional odds logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship between SES and stage at diagnosis and Kaplan-Meier curves along with Cox-proportional hazards models were used to assess the relationship between SES and survival months.
RESULTS: In both women of all ages and in women under 40, lower SES was significantly associated with later stage at breast cancer diagnosis (P < .001), poorer five-year (P < .001), and ten-year (P < .001) overall and breast-cancer specific survival rates in an incremental fashion.
CONCLUSION: SES significantly impacts breast cancer stage at diagnosis and survival rates in a graded fashion, with lowering SES corresponding with later stage at breast cancer diagnosis and poorer five-year and ten-year survival rates across all age groups, including women under 40. Improving screening rates in low SES populations and initiating high risk screening strategies at an earlier age in women with low SES may help ameliorate these disparities.
Author List
Harris A, Conrardy R, Szabo A, Chaudhary LNAuthors
Lubna N. Chaudhary MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinAniko Szabo PhD Professor in the Data Science Institute department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAge Factors
Aged
Breast Neoplasms
Early Detection of Cancer
Female
Humans
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Mammography
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
SEER Program
Social Class
Survival Rate
United States
Young Adult
