Date Available

4-5-2012

Year of Publication

2011

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Document Type

Master's Thesis

College

Agriculture

Department/School/Program

Nutrition and Food Science

First Advisor

Dr. Kelly H Webber

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the discrepancies of female breast cancer mortality between the Appalachian and Non-Appalachian regions of Kentucky using data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry. This study identified subtype, reproductive, and regional differences in women with breast cancer in Kentucky. Among women with breast cancer living in Kentucky from 2004 to 2007, one and three live births significantly increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer mortality by 91% and 58% respectively, compared to a woman with zero live births. Progesterone receptornegative tumor status significantly increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer mortality by 64% compared to women with progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer. Residence in the Appalachian region significantly increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer mortality by 3.14-fold. After adjusting for regional interactions, progesterone receptor-negative tumor status in the Appalachian region increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer mortality by 3.13-fold. These findings suggest parity and estrogen receptor tumor status do not contribute to the breast cancer differences between the Appalachian and Non-Appalachian region of Kentucky. The association between progesterone receptor status and Appalachian residency suggest factors associated with the Appalachian region provide the poorest prognosis for a woman with breast cancer in Kentucky.

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