Breast cancer treatment experiences of Latinas in Los Angeles County

Abstract

Objective: We examined breast cancer treatment experiences of and outcomes for Latinas in Los Angeles County.

Methods: We conducted a population-based survey of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between December 2001 and November 2002 (n=910) to evaluate the types of treatments received, communication with clinicians, and satisfaction.

Results: About two thirds were non-Latina White, 18.8% were African American, and 18.9% were Latina (with 11.0% preferring English and 7.9% preferring Spanish). The rest indicated other ethnic groups. Latinas who preferred Spanish were more likely to experience a delay of 3 months or more from diagnosis to surgical treatment (36.4% vs 9.1% for non-Latina Whites, 18.6% for African Americans, and 12.7%, for other Latinas, P<.001). African Americans and Latinas who preferred Spanish had very low rates of reconstruction (13.8% and 9.2%, respectively, compared with 42.1% for Whites and 34.5% for Latinas who preferred English, P=.009). Latinas who preferred Spanish had the highest odds ratio for low satisfaction.

Conclusion: Latinas who preferred Spanish received different treatments and perceived a different treatment experience than did other cultural groups.

FIGURE 1.

Surgeon recommendation of radiation and receipt of radiation after breast-conserving surgery, by ethnicity and tumor behavior. Note. DCIS = ductal carcinoma in situ. DCIS Wald test for differences by ethnicity for recommendation, 8.3, P = .042, and receipt, 7.2, P = .071, after control for age and education (n = 252). Invasive disease Wald test differences by ethnicity for recommendation, 2.0 P = .712, and receipt, 2.3, P = .527 (n = 360). Latina-English indicates Latina patients who preferred an English questionnaire; Latina-Spanish indicates Latina patients who preferred a Spanish questionnaire.