Breast cancer
IN PHOTO: Pink balloons are displayed in front of an artificial waterfall during the "Pink Ribbon" breast cancer awareness campaign at Cheonggye Stream in central Seoul October 5, 2011. The annual campaign is held to promote awareness of breast cancer and to support the fight against it. Reuters/Jo Yong-Hak

Researchers found that the incidence of death among males with breast cancer is influenced by race. The difference, however, was reduced after taking into account insurance and income information.

The study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that 76 percent of black men with breast cancer are more at risk of death than white men who underwent the same treatment. This was discovered after a team of researchers led by Helmneh Sineshaw, MD, MPH were able to determine 9,231 males aged 18 years old and above with early-stage breast cancer. The investigation was performed using the National Cancer Data Base, or NCDB. This database contains about 70 percent of new cases of cancer diagnosed in the United States, as well as demographic data, tumor details, attending hospital's environment and first line of treatment. It is funded by the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society.

The researchers found that the treatment plan for both the blacks and whites were fairly similar. The difference in the risk of death in older men with breast cancer of both races were not significant. However, the risk is notably higher in younger blacks compared to young white males. Because the number was reduced after considering income and insurance details, the researchers suggested poverty may be the key factor. Although the same treatments were rendered, the overall quality of care and ability to comply to treatment in the long-term may play a role. Furthermore, hormone receptor state and biologic factors were also looked at.

The outcome of the same research in young women were interestingly different. "Although this finding is encouraging," wrote the authors, "it could be influenced by the rarity of male breast cancer, differences in receipt of treatment between men and women and/or other unmeasured factors, and requires further research.” The review of the Affordable Care Act or ACA, including its benefits and contributions to the increased mortality risk of young black men with early-stage breast cancer should be implemented to determine whether it improves or aggravates the mortality risk, the authors closed.

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