Patterns of breast, cervical, colorectal, and prostate cancer in the Appalachian region of South Carolina.

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.