Disparities exist in treatment, survival among black, white men with early stage breast cancer

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

In this study, the researchers investigated the disparities between blacks and whites in receipt of treatment for early stage breast cancer in men age 18 to 64 years and men 65 years and older.

The study included 725 non-Hispanic black (black) and 5,247 non-Hispanic white (white) men with a diagnosis of early stage breast cancer from 2004 to 2011 in the National Cancer Data Base.

Receipt of treatment was found to be remarkably similar between blacks and whites in both age groups. In both races, fewer older men received chemotherapy compared with younger men.

Risk of death, however, was higher for the younger black men than the younger white men, but the difference was significantly less after adjustments for covariates. That risk was not significant and not affected by covariates in the groups of older men.

Higher risk of death in black men vs white men is limited to men age 18 to 64 years and became nonsignificant after adjustments for insurance and income.

The researchers conclude that improving access to care is an important factor in reducing the disparities in male breast cancer mortality.