Racial Differences in Treatment Modalities Among Female Residents of Florida Diagnosed with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Abstract Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine whether there were racial differences in patterns of care between Non-Hispanic White (NHW) and African-American (AA) women diagnosed with regional and distant epithelial ovarian cancer living in Florida. Design: This epidemiologic cross-sectional study utilized data on incident cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed between 1981 and 2000 among Florida residents reported to the statewide Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS). Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 13,858 AA and NHW women diagnosed with regional or distant epithelial ovarian cancer between 1981 and 2000 identified from using FCDS data. The variables of interest included: race/ethnicity, marital status, tobacco use, age at diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, no treatment, other therapy, and a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to determine the receipt of treatment by st...