Waiting longer than 60 days to initiate treatment was associated with poorer survival.
Differences in outcomes among breast cancer patients have been accounted for using multiple variables, including cancer biology, tumor burden, comorbidities, socioeconomic issues, and access to care. Now, investigators have conducted a retrospective analysis of breast cancer patients to determine the impact of delaying treatment ≥60 days after biopsy-confirmed diagnosis.
The study involved 1786 North Carolina Medicaid enrollees (mean age, 61.6) diagnosed in 2000 through 2002 and followed through July 2006. The median diagnosis to treatment (DTT) interval was 22 days. For analysis, disease stage was dichotomized as early (in situ, local) and late (regional, distant).
The DTT interval did not affect overall survival (OS) or breast cancer–specif…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead
Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation
Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead
Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation
Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)