17 research outputs found
Birth Stories of Trinidad and Tobago: Reena Teelucksingh-Ramsaroop
No full textReena Teelucksingh-Ramsaroop is a mother from Couva. She recalls when she first learned that she and her husband was expecting, how she was able to remain active throughout her pregnancy and her decision to seek pre-natal care from a doctor at the St. Augstine Private Hospital
Audit of Grade 3 Breast Cancer in New Zealand Women
No full textBreast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women, accounting for approximately 3000 new registrations per year, affecting one in nine women and resulting in more than 600 deaths annually. The survival rate for breast cancer is dependent on multiple factors. These can include patient factors, tumour biology and resource-related factors such as access to health interventions.
This study analysed data of selected prognostic factors of grade 3 tumours over a 5-year period from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2015 from four Breast Cancer Registries (Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch, and Wellington).
The study of 2667 women found that subjects in the older age group of >70 years were at increased risk of five-year mortality. Of the ethnicity groups, the Pacific Islander group were at increased risk, whereas the Māori group were at decreased risk. Histology type showed no statistically significant difference, whereas the molecular subtypes HER2 enriched and TNBC subjects were at increased risk. The study also showed that NZ Europeans presented the largest proportion of HER2 enriched and TNBC and the subjects from these two molecular subtypes were at increased risk of five-year mortality. In addition, analysis of the hormonal receptors showed that ER-negative, PR positive group were at increased risk and in contrast, the ER/PR positive group were at decreased risk. Subjects from stages II, IV and X were at increased risk, however, subjects from stage III were approaching significance.
From the analysis, it can be noted that the survival rates for Grade 3 breast cancer vary across the selected prognostic factors and therefore it can be summarised that the survival of this disease is dependent on multiple factors. These factors can include patient factors, tumour biology and resource-related such as access to health interventions.
Grade 3 is heterogeneous cancer and this study has shown that despite being high grade, not every patient has a poor outcome. Therefore, survival has to be combined with other factors such as biological and potentially socioeconomic factors associated with this disease.
The results of this study make an initial contribution to the understanding of high-grade malignancy. The selected prognostic factors were used primarily as a preliminary study into the overall survival of this disease. The inclusion of other prognostic factors would potentiate further studies into this aggressive cancer. Such studies should be supported in order to gain better understanding and establishment of measures for the prediction of survival with grade 3 breast cancer in New Zealand women
Audit of Grade 3 Breast Cancer in New Zealand Women
No full textBreast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women, accounting for approximately 3000 new registrations per year, affecting one in nine women and resulting in more than 600 deaths annually. The survival rate for breast cancer is dependent on multiple factors. These can include patient factors, tumour biology and resource-related factors such as access to health interventions.
This study analysed data of selected prognostic factors of grade 3 tumours over a 5-year period from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2015 from four Breast Cancer Registries (Auckland, Waikato, Christchurch, and Wellington).
The study of 2667 women found that subjects in the older age group of >70 years were at increased risk of five-year mortality. Of the ethnicity groups, the Pacific Islander group were at increased risk, whereas the Māori group were at decreased risk. Histology type showed no statistically significant difference, whereas the molecular subtypes HER2 enriched and TNBC subjects were at increased risk. The study also showed that NZ Europeans presented the largest proportion of HER2 enriched and TNBC and the subjects from these two molecular subtypes were at increased risk of five-year mortality. In addition, analysis of the hormonal receptors showed that ER-negative, PR positive group were at increased risk and in contrast, the ER/PR positive group were at decreased risk. Subjects from stages II, IV and X were at increased risk, however, subjects from stage III were approaching significance.
From the analysis, it can be noted that the survival rates for Grade 3 breast cancer vary across the selected prognostic factors and therefore it can be summarised that the survival of this disease is dependent on multiple factors. These factors can include patient factors, tumour biology and resource-related such as access to health interventions.
Grade 3 is heterogeneous cancer and this study has shown that despite being high grade, not every patient has a poor outcome. Therefore, survival has to be combined with other factors such as biological and potentially socioeconomic factors associated with this disease.
The results of this study make an initial contribution to the understanding of high-grade malignancy. The selected prognostic factors were used primarily as a preliminary study into the overall survival of this disease. The inclusion of other prognostic factors would potentiate further studies into this aggressive cancer. Such studies should be supported in order to gain better understanding and establishment of measures for the prediction of survival with grade 3 breast cancer in New Zealand women
30,000 voices: Informing a better future for breast cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand
No full textIn the first and biggest study of its kind, our analysis of Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae - Breast Cancer Foundation National Register reveals New Zealand’s progress in tackling breast cancer.
By highlighting the areas where improvements are most needed, this report gives us a catalyst for change.
We’ve set out recommendations for decision-makers, medical professionals, and even ourselves to address the biggest challenges ahead of us.https://breastcancerregister.org.nz/images/assets/4744/1/breast%20cancer%20foundation%20national%20register%20report%202022%20final.pd
Ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival in New Zealand: which factors contribute?
No full textBackground: New Zealand has major ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival with Maori (indigenous people) and Pacific women (immigrants or descended from immigrants from Pacific Islands) faring much worse than other ethnic groups. This paper identified underlying factors and assessed their relative contribution to this risk differential.
Methods: This study involved all women who were diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in two health regions, covering about 40% of the national population, between January 2000 and June 2014. Maori and Pacific patients were compared with other ethnic groups in terms of demographics, mode of diagnosis, disease factors and treatment factors. Cox regression modelling was performed with stepwise adjustments, and hazards of excess mortality from breast cancer for Maori and Pacific patients were assessed.
Results: Of the 13,657 patients who were included in this analysis, 1281 (9.4%) were Maori, and 897 (6.6%) were Pacific women. Compared to other ethnic groups, they were younger, more likely to reside in deprived neighbourhoods and to have co-morbidities, and less likely to be diagnosed through screening and with early stage cancer, to be treated in a private care facility, to receive timely cancer treatment, and to receive breast conserving surgery. They had a higher risk of excess mortality from breast cancer (age and year of diagnosis adjusted hazard ratio: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.51-2.04 for Maori and 1.97; 95% CI: 1.67-2.32 for Pacific women), of which 75% and 99% respectively were explained by baseline differences. The most important contributor was late stage at diagnosis. Other contributors included neighbourhood deprivation, mode of diagnosis, type of health care facility where primary cancer treatment was undertaken and type of loco-regional therapy.
Conclusions: Late diagnosis, deprivation and differential access to and quality of cancer care services were the key contributors to ethnic disparities in breast cancer survival in New Zealand. Our findings underscore the need for a greater equity focus along the breast cancer care pathway, with an emphasis on improving access to early diagnosis for Maori and Pacific women
