Breast cancer in Georgia, 2007-2011 [2015]

Acknowledgments
Georgia Department of Public Health....................................................Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., Commissioner Division of Health Protection...................................................................... Patrick O'Neal, M.D., Director Epidemiology Program............................................... Cherie Drenzek, D.V.M., M.S., State Epidemiologist Chronic Disease, Healthy Behaviors, and Injury Epidemiology Section..................... A. Rana Bayakly, M.P.H., Director Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry................................. A. Rana Bayakly, M.P.H., Director Chrissy McNamara, M.S.P.H., Epidemiologist Alissa K. Berzen, M.P.H., Epidemiologist Chronic Disease Prevention Section.................................................Jean O'Connor, J.D., Dr.P.H., Director Office of Prevention, Screening, and Treatment...................Barbara Crane, M.N., A.P.R.N, Deputy Director
We would like to thank all of the hospitals in Georgia that contributed data for this report. Without their hard work, this report would not have been possible.
Funding for this research was made possible (in part) by cooperative agreement award number 5/U58/DP003875-03 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and through contract HHSN261201300015I with the National Cancer Institute. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the National Cancer Institute.
Suggested Citation: Berzen AK, McNamara C, Bayakly AR, O'Connor, J, Crane, B. Breast Cancer in Georgia, 2007-2011. Georgia Department of Public Health, Health Protection Office, Chronic Disease, Healthy Behaviors, and Injury Epidemiology Section, June 2015.
2

What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs most commonly in women, but men can get breast cancer as well. Since men account for only about one percent of total breast cancer cases, the information presented here refers only to breast cancer in women.
The breast itself is made up of lobules, ducts, fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymph vessels. Inside the breasts are glands that produce and release milk after a woman has a baby. The glands that make the milk are called lobules and the tubes that connect them to the nipple are called ducts.
Understanding the medical language as it relates to breast cancer can be challenging. Here are some terms that describe the most common types of breast cancer:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer. Noninvasive means that the cancer has not spread through the walls of the ducts into the fatty tissue of the breast. Nearly all women with cancer at this stage can be cured. However, if the cancer is not treated at this time, it may develop into invasive breast cancer.
Infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC): This cancer starts in a milk passage or duct, breaks through the wall of the duct, and invades the fatty tissue of the breast. From there it can spread to the lymph nodes, or via the bloodstream to other parts of the body. IDC is the most common type of breast cancer. It accounts for about 75-80 percent of invasive breast cancer.
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC): This cancer starts in the milk glands or lobules. It can spread to other parts of the body, similar to IDC. About 10-15 percent of invasive breast cancers are of this type.
Less common types of breast cancer can include other invasive ductal-type cancers, inflammatory breast cancer (which is diagnosed more frequently in younger and black women), and Paget's disease, which accounts for less than five percent of all breast cancers detected nationwide, and less than 1 percent of all breast cancers detected in Georgia.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in Georgia women (as well as in the United States as a whole), and is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among Georgia women, after lung cancer. A woman in the United States has approximately a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
How is Breast Cancer Detected?
The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will be effective. The American Cancer Society recommends the following screening guidelines for women without symptoms:
Mammogram: A mammogram uses X-ray technology to obtain an image of the inside of the breast. Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year, and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are a valuable tool for finding breast cancer. Recent medical developments have introduced computer-aided mammography, digital mammography, and 3D mammography; however, traditional mammography remains the gold standard for screening, and is still the only test that has been shown to decrease the likelihood of dying from breast cancer.
Clinical breast exam (CBE): Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as part of a regular health exam by a health professional every three years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year. A CBE can provide a complement to mammography- a two pronged approach to gather the most complete information.
As of November 2009, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) breast cancer screening recommendations differ from those of the American Cancer Society. The USPSTF recommends women aged 50-74 years have a mammogram every two years, and women younger than age 50 speak to their doctors to assess whether mammography screening is appropriate for them. They also state that the evidence is insufficient to fully assess the benefits and harms of screening mammography in women older than age 75, or of performing CBEs in addition to mammography in women aged 40 and older.
3

What are the Top Five Cancers in Georgia?
Top Five Cancer Incidence Sites (2007-2011) and Cancer-Related Deaths (2006-2011*), Georgia Females

Cases
Breast Lung & Bronchus Colon & Rectum
Uterine Corpus Melanoma

Deaths
Lung & Bronchus Breast
Colon & Rectum Pancreas Ovary

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in Georgia. One in 8 American females will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

Screening Rates for Georgia Women

The following data were collected by the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2011 and represent non-institutionalized civilian women aged 18 years and older living in Georgia.
Mammogram: Among Georgia women 40 years and older, 92 percent have ever had a mammogram. Sixty-four percent of Georgia women aged 40 and older reported having had a mammogram within the past year, while 81 percent reported having had a mammogram sometime within the past two years.
Clinical Breast Exam (CBE): Among Georgia women 18 years and older, 89 percent have ever had a CBE. Among women younger than 40, 80 percent reported that their last CBE was within the past three years. Of women aged 40 and older, 67 percent reported that their last CBE was within the past year.
Screening in Relation to Health Insurance in Georgia
In 2011, approximately 22 percent of women in Georgia reported that they did not have health insurance.

Women with Insurance Women without Insurance

100

89

81

80

72

65

60

53

37 40

83 78
57 43

20

*

*

0

Mam within 1 year Mam within 2 years Mam within 1 year Mam within 2 years

*

*

CBE within 3 years CBE within 1 year CBE within 1 year

40-64 years

65+ years

18-39 years 40-64 years

65+ years

* Fewer than 50 respondents per category

Mammogram: In 2011, among women aged 40 years and older who reported that they had no health insurance, 79 percent reported that they had ever had a mammogram, compared to 95 percent of women with insurance. Among all women aged 40-64, women who had insurance were both more likely to have had a mammogram within the past year (72 percent vs. 37 percent), and within the past two years (89 percent vs. 53 percent). Among women aged 65 years and older, insured women were slightly less likely as women aged 40-64 years to have had a mammogram in either the past year or past two years, but there were not enough uninsured respondents to draw a comparison.
Clinical Breast Exam (CBE): Women with health insurance were more likely to report having ever had a CBE, compared to uninsured women (92 percent vs. 80 percent). Insured women of all age groups were more likely to report having had CBE screening within the timeframe recommended by the American Cancer Society guidelines.

4

Breast Cancer Screening in Relation to Education and Race/Ethnicity, by Health Insurance Status, in Georgia (2007-2010**)

Education Less than high school High school graduate
Some college College graduate

Insured

Uninsured

Mammogram within 2 yrs CBE within 1 yr Mammogram within 2 yrs CBE within 1 yr

75%

59%

44%

40%

78%

67%

46%

42%

81%

75%

50%

47%

84%

81%

54%

50%

Race/Ethnicity

Non-Hispanic White

81%

75%

40%

40%

Non-Hispanic Black

84%

75%

57%

49%

Hispanic

84%

73%

*

*

*Fewer than 50 respondents per category **2011 BRFSS data omitted due to change in methodology

Among women of varying educational attainment, women who had graduated college were most likely to report that their

most recent mammogram was within the past two years, and their most recent CBE was within the past year. The more education a woman had, there was a greater likelihood that she had had a recent breast screening. This finding was true for

both insured and uninsured women, although uninsured women in every educational group had lower screening rates than

their insured counterparts with the same education level.

Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women with health insurance were slightly more likely than insured Non-Hispanic white women to report that their most recent mammogram was within the past two years, and Hispanic women were slightly less likely to report that their most recent CBE was within the past year. Among uninsured women, Non-Hispanic black women were much more likely than Non-Hispanic white women to report having had a recent mammogram or CBE.

Who Develops Breast Cancer?

Age-Adjusted Breast Cancer Incidence (2007-2011) and Mortality (2006-2011*) Rates by Race, US and GA

United States Georgia

140

123 124

120

128 126

100

80

60

40

20

0

Non-Hispanic Non-Hispanic

Black

White

92 94 Hispanic

Yearly from 2007-2011, an average of almost 6,300

cases of female breast cancer were reported to the

Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry. Non-

Hispanic white women were more likely to be

diagnosed with the disease than were non-Hispanic

black or Hispanic women.

31 29 23 21
Yearly, over 1,100 Georgia women die from breast

cancer. The mortality rate for black women was higher

Black

White

than that for white women, for both Georgia and the

US.

Incidence

Mortality

Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 US standard population.

Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women in Georgia have breast cancer incidence rates higher than the U.S. rates for those groups, while non-Hispanic white women in Georgia have a lower incidence rate than the U.S. Mortality rates for both black and white women in Georgia are lower than the U.S. rates.

* Because of data quality issues, 2009 cancer death data are not used for analysis. This report includes data for 2006-2008 and 2010-2011 combined.

Rate per 100,000 Population

5

What are the Causes and Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?
We do not yet know exactly what causes breast cancer, but we do know that certain risk factors are linked to the disease. A risk factor is anything that indicates a person has a higher than normal chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family history, can't be controlled. But having a risk factor, or even several, doesn't mean that a person will get the disease.
While all women are at risk for breast cancer, the following factors can increase a woman's chances of having the disease.
Risk Factors That Can Be Controlled Not having children: Women who have had no children, or who had their first child after age 30, have about a 40 percent higher risk of breast cancer. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): It has become clear that long-term use (several years or more) of combined HRT (estrogens together with progesterone) for relief of menopause symptoms can increase the risk of breast cancer as well as the risk of heart disease, blood clots, and strokes. These breast cancers are also found at a more advanced stage. Among women who used HRT, the therapy seems to reduce the effectiveness of mammograms. Five years after stopping HRT, the breast cancer risk appears to drop back to normal. Birth control pills: Several studies have been conducted to determine the relationship between oral contraceptives and breast cancer, but the results have been conflicting as to whether they increase the risk or not. It's a good idea to discuss the risks and benefits of taking birth control pills with your doctor. Not breastfeeding: Studies have shown that breastfeeding lowers breast cancer risk, especially if breastfeeding lasts 1 to 2 years. This may be because breastfeeding lowers a woman's total number of menstrual periods. Alcohol: Use of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of getting breast cancer. Women who have one drink a day have a very small increased risk. Those who have two to five drinks daily have about a 50 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who do not drink alcohol. Obesity: Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, especially if the weight gain took place during adulthood or after menopause. Also, the risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is in the waist area. However, a recent study showed that women who lost weight (on the order of 20 pounds) after menopause reduced their overall risk for breast cancer by almost half. Exercise: Recent studies show that strenuous exercise during youth might provide life-long protection against breast cancer and that moderate to strenuous physical activity as an adult can lower breast cancer risk by about 60 percent. Even smaller amounts of regular exercise may reduce risk--30 minutes of activity on three or four days of the week appears to have a beneficial effect. More research is being done to confirm these findings.
Risk Factors That Cannot Be Controlled Sex: Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer. Although some men can (and do) get breast cancer, their overall risk is minimal compared to the risk for women. Age: The chance of getting breast cancer goes up as a woman gets older. About eight out of ten breast cancers are found in women over age 50. Genetic risk factors: One case out of ten breast cancer cases is linked to changes (mutations) in certain genes. The most common gene changes are those of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. But other gene changes may raise breast cancer risk as well. Family history: Breast cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother's or father's side of the family. Having a mother, sister, or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 50 almost doubles a woman's risk. Personal history of breast cancer: A woman with cancer in one breast has a three to four times greater chance of developing a new cancer in the other breast or another part of the same breast. This is different from a recurrence of the first cancer. Race: White women are more likely to develop breast cancer than are black women, but black women are more likely to die of this cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and American-Indian women have a lower risk of breast cancer. History of abnormal breast biopsy: Having a previous biopsy result of atypical hyperplasia increases a woman's breast cancer risk by four to five times. Radiation: Women who have had chest area radiation treatment have a greatly increased risk of breast cancer. Some studies found the risk to be 12 times higher than the normal risk. Menstrual periods: Women who began having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who went through menopause after the age of 50 have an increased risk of breast cancer.
6

Treatment with DES: In the 1940s through the 1960s some pregnant women were given DES (diethylstilbestrol) because it was thought to lower their chances of miscarriage. Recent studies have shown that these women have about a 35 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer, and their daughters who were exposed to DES in the womb also have an increased risk.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Risk Factors for Georgia Women

Based on the Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System during 2011:

Risk Factor

All Women

Women 40-64 Years

Women without Health Insurance

Women with Health Insurance

Exercise

No activity in last 30 days

30%

29%

34%

29%

Meets physical activity

17%

16%

14%

17%

recommendations

Alcohol Use

Any drinks in last 30 days

44%

45%

43%

44%

More than one drink per day

5%

6%

5%

5%

Overweight/Obese

- Overweight (BMI 25-29.9)

29%

31%

27%

29%

- Obese (BMI > 30)

29%

33%

31%

29%

Exercise: Participants were asked if they had engaged in any physical activity in the past month. Thirty percent of women reported that they had not engaged in any physical activity. Women with health insurance were more likely to report a history of activity than uninsured women. Of those that reported they had engaged in physical activity, only seventeen percent of women met both aerobic and strength training recommendations, and women without health insurance were less likely than insured women to meet recommendations.
Alcohol Use: Participants were asked if they had had at least one alcoholic drink in the previous 30 days. Forty-four percent of all women reported that they had consumed at least one drink, but drinking history was roughly the same regardless of insurance status. Heavy drinking was classified for women as having more than one drink per day. Five percent of all women fell into the heavy drinking category, and this behavior did not seem to differ for women based on insurance status.
Overweight/Obesity: Participants were asked to report their height and weight, and their resulting Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated based on those responses. BMI greater than or equal to 25 is considered overweight, and greater than or equal to 30 is considered obese. Fifty-eight percent of participating women had a calculated BMI that placed them as overweight or obese, and 64 percent of women 40-64 were considered overweight or obese. Fifty-eight percent of women who reported having no health insurance were considered overweight or obese.
Prevention of Breast Cancer
Although it is not possible to prevent the development of breast cancer simply by avoiding your exposure to the controllable risk factors mentioned above, there have been recent advances in the use of breast cancer preventive drugs. These drugs have estrogen-blocking properties, which help to prevent the occurrence of breast cancer (and also have the benefit of preventing/treating osteoporosis). The two drugs are tamoxifen, which has been in use for several years already for both treatment and prevention; and raloxifene, a relatively new drug approved by the FDA in 2007. So far raloxifene has been proven beneficial in post-menopausal women who are already at high risk for breast cancer. Both drugs seem to be useful in controlling the occurrence of invasive cancer, however, tamoxifen is also beneficial for use with non-invasive cancers.

7

What are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

The number of breast cancers that are found before symptoms occur has increased largely due to the widespread use of mammography screening. However, some breast cancers are not found because even under ideal conditions, mammography does not detect every cancer, which is why it is important to have clinical breast examinations as well for a more complete screening.

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer. Some rare cancers are tender, soft, and rounded, which is why it's important to have anything unusual checked by a health professional that is trained to perform clinical breast examinations.
Other signs of breast cancer include the following: A swelling of part of the breast Skin irritation or dimpling Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward Redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin A nipple discharge other than breast milk A lump in the underarm area

At What Age is Breast Cancer Most Often Diagnosed?

Georgia Age-Specific Breast Cancer Incidence (2007-2011) and Mortality (2006-2011*), by Age Group and Race

Age-Specific Rate per 100,000 population Age-Specific Rate per 100,000 population

Incidence
Non-Hispanic White Non-Hispanic Black

500

438

450

400

379

394 372 369

344

350

300

250

235 246

200

163

143

150

100

50 11 16
0 0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+

Age Group

Mortality
White Black

200

182

180

160

143

140

120

104

100

83

80

73

60

54 59

36

40

29

15

20

12

0

0-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80+

Age Group

* Because of data quality issues, 2009 cancer death data are not used for analysis. This report includes data for 2006- 2008 and 2010-2011 combined.
Although breast cancer incidence and mortality rates are highest in older women, breast cancer may also occur in younger women. In Georgia, women over the age of 60 have the highest incidence rates of breast cancer; however, black women have higher incidence rates than white women at younger ages. Mortality rates steadily increase with age; the highest mortality rates are seen in women 80 years of age and older. In all age groups, black women have higher mortality rates than white women. Before the age of 40, breast cancer deaths are very rare, but they do occur occasionally. Every year, about 40 Georgia women under 40 years of age die from breast cancer.

8

What is the Treatment for Breast Cancer?
Each type of treatment has benefits and side effects. Age, overall health, and the stage of the cancer are all factors to consider. Staging is a standardized way to summarize information about how far a cancer has spread from its point of origin. In situ breast cancers are contained within the ducts or lobules inside the breast. Localized breast cancers have invaded the breast tissue and fat, but have not spread beyond the breast. Regional stage breast cancers have spread beyond the breast to the chest wall, skin, and/or to the lymph nodes of the breast and underarm area on the same side of the chest. Distant stage breast cancers have spread to distant sites such as bone (except adjacent rib), liver, or lung, or the other breast. Distant stage also includes dissemination to lymph nodes on the opposite side of the chest or to distant lymph nodes.
Surgery: Most women with breast cancer will have some type of surgery to treat the primary breast tumor. The purpose of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. The type of surgery performed will depend mainly on the stage of the tumor. There are several surgical treatment options to be considered that will take into account the tumor characteristics, the recommendations of the surgeon and/or oncologist, and the preference of the patient. These options include: Lumpectomy (the breast lump and some normal tissue around it are removed) Simple mastectomy (the entire breast is removed) Modified radical mastectomy (the entire breast and some of the lymph nodes under the arm are removed). Radical mastectomy (the entire breast, lymph nodes, and some of the chest wall muscle and skin are removed--this type of surgery is now generally reserved for the most advanced cases) Two additional surgical options are useful when combined with reconstructive surgery to restore the breast's appearance: skin-sparing mastectomy and subcutaneous (nipple-sparing) mastectomy.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. If chemotherapy is given after surgery (adjuvant therapy) it can reduce the chance of the cancer returning. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is given before surgery, often to shrink the tumor making it easier to remove. Chemotherapy can also be used as the main treatment for cancer that has spread outside the breast and underarm area or spreads widely after initial treatment.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells. The radiation may come from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in the tumor (internal or implant radiation). Radiation therapy may be used to destroy cancer cells remaining in the breast, chest wall, or underarm area after surgery or, less often, to reduce the size of a tumor before surgery. For women with certain types of early-stage breast cancers (especially without the involvement of lymph nodes), a recent study has shown that a shorter course of radiation may be just as beneficial as the traditional, longer course.
Hormone Therapy: The female hormone estrogen can increase the growth of breast cancer cells in some women. A drug such as tamoxifen, which blocks the effect of estrogen, can be given to counter this growth.
Immunotherapy: The HER2/neu protein is a growth-promoting protein found in normal breast cells and most breast cancers. Some breast cancers have too much of this protein which can cause the cancer to grow and spread faster. Herceptin can stop the HER2/neu protein from causing breast cancer cell growth. It may also help the immune system to better attack the cancer.
9

Who Survives Breast Cancer?

Percent of GA Women Surviving Five Years after Diagnosis with Breast Cancer, by Stage of Disease and Race, 2004-2010
Black White

100 89
80 80

94 97

83 75

Percent of Women Surviving 5 Years

60

40
25 19 20

0
All Stages

Localized

Regional

Distant

% of tumors found at this stage*

Localized

GA Black

52%

GA White

63%

Regional
38% 31%

Distant
8% 5%

* Unstaged tumors are not shown.

Survival rates depend mainly on two elements: how early the cancer is detected, and the pathology of the tumor (how aggressive it is). Early detection is important because survival for early stage breast cancer is much greater than that for later stage disease. Five-year survival for tumors found in the localized stage is 94 percent among Georgia black women and 97 percent among Georgia white women. In Georgia, about 52 percent of cases among black women and about 63 percent of cases among white women are diagnosed in the localized stage. If the cancer is diagnosed at the distant stage, five-year survival drops to about 19 percent for GA black women and 25 percent for GA white women. Detection and treatment of breast cancer have greatly improved in recent years, with the fiveyear relative U.S. survival rate for all stages combined significantly increasing from 75 percent in 1974-1976 to 89 percent in 2004-2010.

Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality
Black women in Georgia have lower breast cancer incidence rates than white women, and yet have higher mortality, especially among younger women. A number of research studies have attempted to figure out why this is occurring. Various causes have been considered such as lifestyle factors, socioeconomic status, access to care, and biological causes such as tumor subtypes. One way to classify breast tumors is by their expression, or lack thereof, of hormone receptors (estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2). Recently, attention has been paid to triple negative tumors those that lack expression of all three hormones. Research has shown that these particular tumors seem to be more prevalent in younger women (particularly black women) and are not only more aggressive, but show poorer response to breast cancer treatments which may account for part of the disparity. Since socioeconomic status, access to and use of care, and other behavioral characteristics still play a part in the breast cancer prognosis, further research will need to be conducted to clarify the relationship among all risk factors, as well as any possible biologic differences in other racial/ethnic groups.

10

How Does Breast Cancer Vary by Region?
Georgia Breast Cancer Age-Adjusted Incidence (2007-2011) and Age-Adjusted Mortality (2006-2011*) Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Geography

Non-Hispanic White

Non-Hispanic Black

Hispanic

Age-Adjusted Rate per 100,000

140 126 124
120

100

94

126 127 97

129

120

122

115 119

80 66
60

40

20

0 State of Georgia Metro 1M+ Metro 250k-1M+ Metro <250k
Incidence

112 111 88

104

103

94

Smaller Urban

Rural

Georgia Counties on the Rural-Urban Continuum

White Black

35

32

29 30

25

21

21

20

15

10

5

0 State of Metro
Georgia** 1M+**

30

23

20

20

Metro 250k1M+**

Metro <250k

Mortality

29 20

24 22

Smaller Rural** Urban**

Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. *Fewer than 20 cases; Rates not calculated
Rates are statistically significantly different for Hispanics vs. blacks or whites ** Rates are statistically significantly different for blacks vs. whites

Please refer to the Technical Notes for a description of the RuralUrban Continuum.

* Because of data quality issues, 2009 cancer death data are not used for analysis. This report includes data for 2006-2008 and 2010-2011 combined.

Age-Adjusted Rate per 100,000

11

Statewide, Non-Hispanic white women in Georgia have a slightly higher incidence rate of breast cancer as nonHispanic black women, and Hispanic women have a significantly lower breast cancer incidence rate than either nonHispanic white or non-Hispanic black women. When examining rates by geography, however, non-Hispanic black women in the smaller metro areas have higher incidence rates than non-Hispanic white or Hispanic women, while non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women in the largest metro, smaller urban, and rural areas have very similar incidence rates. Hispanic women have significantly lower rates of breast cancer than non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white in all metro areas.
Non-Hispanic white women in smallest metro, smaller urban, and rural counties experienced significantly lower rates of breast cancer incidence than non-Hispanic white women statewide. Non-Hispanic black women in smaller urban and rural counties experienced significantly lower rates of breast cancer incidence than non-Hispanic black women statewide. Hispanic women in the smallest metro counties had significantly lower rates of breast cancer than Hispanic women statewide.
In the state of Georgia, black women have higher mortality rates from breast cancer than white women, regardless of geography. The widest disparities in mortality rates exist in the largest metro areas and smaller urban counties. In those areas, the disparity between black and white mortality rates is statistically significant. Black women in the smallest metro counties had a significantly lower mortality rate than black women statewide. None of the other mortality rates for any of the metropolitan classifications were significantly different from the statewide mortality rates for either race.

Age-Adjusted Breast Cancer Incidence Rates All Females

Percentage of Breast Cancers Diagnosed at Late Stage All Females

Six Public Health Districts in southern and northwest Georgia (1-1, 1-2, 5-1, 8-2, 9-1, and 9-2) have significantly lower breast cancer incidence rates than the state as a whole. Four Public Health Districts in the metro Atlanta area (Public Health Districts 3-1, 3-2, 3-4, and 3-5) have significantly higher breast cancer incidence rates than the state. When looking at stage at diagnosis, with few exceptions, women in eastern and southern Public Health Districts, as well as District 3-3 in metro Atlanta, have higher frequencies of late stage breast cancer diagnoses than women in north Georgia and much of metro Atlanta. In addition, lack of awareness about the importance of screening due to poverty or low education may prevent women from having regular screenings that might lead to earlier diagnoses.
12

Where is the Greatest Need for Breast Cancer Screening and Interventions?

Percent Uninsured Among Georgia Women Aged 40-64 Years Below 200% Poverty by County, 2011
Percent of Georgia Women Who Had a Mammogram within the Past Two Years by Health District, 2007-2010*

The US Census Bureau puts together annual estimates regarding the number of women in the target age group and income level to determine the size of the population that is eligible for Georgia Breast and Cervical Cancer Program services (see Page 17 for a complete description of program eligibility and services). The groups are also stratified based on insurance status. This map shows, by county, the percentage of Georgia women in the 40-64 years age group who are below 200% of the federal poverty level and who are also uninsured, as of 2011. These areas have the highest proportions of women who are eligible to receive BCCP cervical cancer screening services. Areas in the metro Atlanta area, as well as North Georgia and a band of counties extending from the southeast coastal area down to southwest Georgia have the highest percentages of uninsured women who fall into the specified demographic group. This does not generally mean that more women in the metro Atlanta and coastal areas are uninsured; rather, it shows that among women who already live in poverty, a higher percentage of women in that area are also uninsured.
Current breast cancer screening guidelines recommend that all women aged 40 years and older receive a mammogram every year. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey, asks whether a woman has ever had a mammogram, and if so, how recently. This map shows the percentage of Georgia women aged 40 years and older who reported that their most recent breast screening was within the past two years. The lightest areas have the lowest percentages of women who have had a recent mammogram, indicating a need for outreach and services. The Public Health Districts that had the greatest percentages of underscreened women were in southeast Georgia (Public Health District 9-2 Waycross), and north Georgia (Public Health Districts 1-1 Rome and 2 Gainesville).

*2011 BRFSS data omitted due to change in methodology
13

Percentage of White Women in Georgia Aged 40-64 Years Who Had a Mammogram within Two Years, 2007-2010*

Percentage Late Stage Breast Cancer in White Women Aged 40-64 Years in Georgia, 2007-2011

Regular breast cancer screening through the use of mammograms can help identify early stage cancers that may respond more favorably to treatment. The above maps display the distribution of screening and late stage breast cancer diagnoses among white women in Georgia, aged 40-64 years, by Health District. The Health Districts with the lowest rates of screening (northwest GA and southeast GA) also have to higher frequencies of women diagnosed with late stage breast cancer. Conversely, the Health Districts with the highest rates of screening (metro Atlanta and central GA) have the lowest proportions of women diagnosed with late stage cancers.
*2011 BRFSS data omitted due to change in methodology

14

Percentage of Black Women in Georgia Aged 40-64 Years Who Had a Mammogram within Two Years, 2007-2010*

Percentage Late Stage Breast Cancer in Black Women Aged 40-64 Years in Georgia, 2007-2011

*2011 BRFSS data omitted due to change in methodology
The above maps show the distribution of mammography screening and late stage breast cancer in black women in Georgia, aged 40-64 years, by Health District. The results are not the same as for white women; here, the Health Districts that have the highest rates of mammography screening (eastern and central GA and metro Atlanta) do not necessarily have the lowest proportions of women diagnosed with late stage breast cancer. There may be many factors here, but one possible explanation may come from the examination of hormone receptor status of breast cancer tumors. Black women are known to have higher rates of "triple negative" tumors (meaning they lack the presence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2), and these types of tumors tend to be more aggressive and harder to treat. In addition, they may occur more frequently in younger women (under 40 years), when regular breast cancer screening is not generally recommended. A brief analysis of hormone receptor status among GA breast cancer cases from the most current Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry data (2010-2011) was conducted whereby women were stratified based on race (black vs. white) and then age group (under 40 years, 40-64 years, and 65+ years) to compare frequencies of invasive breast cancer and presence of triple negative tumors. Results showed that while white women accounted for about two-thirds of all invasive breast cancer cases in Georgia, they only accounted for about half of the triple negative tumors. In addition, both white and black women under 40 years, and between the ages 4064, had the same percentage of invasive breast cancers, but black women under 40 years had almost twice the percentage of triple negative tumors as white women, and black women age 40-64 had more than double the percentage of triple negative tumors. Among all Georgia women under 40 years, they accounted for about 6% of all invasive breast cancers, but almost 9% of triple negative tumors. Triple negative tumors are clearly more common in black women, young women, and young black women. This would suggest that following current screening guidelines may not help these women who have more aggressive tumors that developed earlier. (See Technical Notes/Data Sources for reference)

GA Population White < 40 Yrs Black < 40 Yrs White 40-64 Black 40-64

Total Cancer Cases 370 357 5795 2804

Invasive Cancer Cases 328 (89% of total) 317 (89% of total) 4468 (77% of total) 2198 (78% of total)

Triple Negative - Invasive 47 (14% of invasive) 78 (25% of invasive) 468 (10% of invasive) 477 (22% of invasive)

Triple Negative In Situ 0 (0% of in situ) 0 (0% of in situ) 15 (1% of in situ) 8 (1% of in situ)

15

How Does Georgia Compare with the United States?

Age-Adjusted Rate per 100,000 population

Breast Cancer Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates, Georgia vs. the US, by Race, 1999-2011

US White

US Black

GA White

GA Black

160 140 120 100
80 60 40 20
0 2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Year of Diagnosis

Between 2000 through 2005, breast cancer incidence rates for white women in Georgia decreased by an average of 2.3% per year, and between 2005 and 2011, rates increased again, by 0.4% annually. In comparison, breast cancer incidence rates for white women in the U.S. decreased by 2.6% per year between 2000 and 2004, and then held steady through 2011.
Between 2000 and 2011, breast cancer incidence rates for black women in Georgia increased by about 1.0% annually. In comparison, incidence rates for black women in the U.S. have increased by 0.6% per year between 2000 and 2011.

Age-AdjustedRate per 100,000 population

Breast Cancer Age-Adjusted Mortality Rates, Georgia vs. the U.S., by Race, 1980-2011*

US White

US Black

GA White

GA Black

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10
5 0
1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

Year of Death Rates are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.

Between 1990 and 2008, breast cancer mortality rates for Georgia white women decreased by 1.9% per year. Breast cancer mortality rates for white women in the U.S. decreased by 2.6% annually between 1990 and 1999, and then continued to decrease by 2% each year through 2011.
Breast cancer mortality rates increased for Georgia black women by 8.5% per year between 1990 and 1993. After 1993, mortality rates for these women decreased by 1.6% per year through 2008. Black women in the U.S. had breast cancer mortality rates that held steady between 1990 and 1995, then decreased by 1.5% annually through 2011.

* Because of data quality issues, 2009 Georgia cancer death data are not used for analysis.
This report includes data for 2006-2008 and 2010-2011 combined for Georgia-specific analyses.

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Screening and Treatment Options in Georgia
For women who have health insurance and do not live below the poverty line, their private doctor/nurse practitioner will be the most likely provider for breast cancer screening. However, what happens to women who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and uninsured, and are in need of screening or diagnostic testing for breast cancer?
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) was created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after Congress passed the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act of 1990. The purpose of the Early Detection Program is to provide access to breast and cervical screening to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured women. The NBCCEDP provides funding for screening programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 5 U.S. territories, and 12 American Indian/Alaska Native tribal organizations. For breast cancer specifically, the NBCCEDP refers eligible women to a local provider for mammograms, clinical breast examinations, follow-up diagnostic testing if needed, and referral for treatment in the event of a positive diagnosis.
In Georgia the program called the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP), formerly known as BreasTest and More, is housed within the Georgia Department of Public Health. It was launched in 1994, and is funded by federal and state funds.
Different funding sources have particular goals, objectives, and priorities for the screening population. For example, CDC has a specific breast cancer screening goal that at least 75 percent of federally funded screening mammograms must be given to women ages 50-64 since this population is at greater risk for breast cancer.
Eligibility
To be considered eligible for the BCCP in Georgia, a woman must: - Have a household income of less than, or equal to, 200 percent (double) of the Federal Poverty Level - Have no health insurance or be underinsured and not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid assistance - Must not have had a mammogram in the past year (otherwise, must display symptoms of possible breast cancer)
Screening mammograms are limited to women ages 40-64 years, however, younger women may access the program to receive a diagnostic mammogram if they meet the above criteria and have symptoms that are highly suspicious of breast cancer. Women whose screening procedures show abnormalities may be sent for diagnostic follow-up.
Following a Positive Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer through the Georgia BCCP (or elsewhere, and meet BCCP eligibility criteria), have options available to assist with treatment.
Women's Health Medicaid Program
The Women's Health Medicaid Program was established in 2001 following the passage of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000. Women apply for the program at their local health department. The application for presumptive eligibility is forwarded to Medicaid for the final determination. Low-income women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and need to access treatment can apply to the program. In order to be considered eligible, women must:
- Meet the financial requirement for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program - Be under 65 years of age - Be a U.S. citizen (or legal immigrant for five years), and Georgia resident - Must not have health coverage (and not be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid)
Accomplishments and Limitations
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Program of Georgia has helped thousands of women gain access to vital breast cancer screening tools such as mammograms and clinical breast exams over the years. Specifically, during the 2011 calendar year, over 16,000 mammograms and almost 18,000 CBEs were performed, and about 200 breast cancers were detected through the program. Of those cancers, over half were considered invasive.
Financial realities are an important limitation of the program, and BCCP cannot serve all women in need. Funding amounts fluctuate over time, and providers can only perform as many screenings as the money allows. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in 2011, Georgia had approximately 216,000 uninsured women age 40-64 living below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (coinciding with the eligibility criteria for the BCCP). Thus, less than ten percent of the eligible women in Georgia were able to take advantage of the screening and diagnostic services offered.
17

Where Can I Find Out More about Breast Cancer?

American Cancer Society Telephone: 1-800-ACS-2345 Internet Address: http://www.cancer.org

National Cancer Institute, Cancer Information Service Telephone: 1-800-4-CANCER or 800-422-6237 Internet Address: http://www.cancer.gov/

Cancer Control Planet Internet Address: http://cancercontrolplanet.cancer.gov/
Encore Plus Program of the YWCA Office of Women's Health Initiatives Telephone: 1-800-953-7587 or 202-467-0801 Internet Address: http://www.ywca.org

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Telephone: 1-877-NCCS-YES or 877-622-7937 Internet Address: http://www.canceradvocacy.org/
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Telephone: 1-800-IM AWARE or 800-462-9273 Internet Address: http://www.komen.org/

National Breast Cancer Coalition Telephone: 1-800-622-2838 or 202-296-7477 Internet Address: http://www.natlbcc.org or http://www.stopbreastcancer.org

Y-Me National Breast Cancer Hotline Telephone: 1-800-221-2141, 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish) Internet Address: http://www.y-me.org

Breast and Cervical Cancer Program of Georgia Internet Address: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bccp/

Technical Notes

Definitions: Age-adjusted rate: A rate calculated in a manner that allows for the comparison of rates derived from populations with different age structures. Cancer incidence rate: The number of new cancer cases occurring in a population during a specified period of time. Often expressed per 100,000 population. Cancer mortality rate: The number of cancer deaths occurring in a population during a specified period of time. Often expressed per 100,000 population.

2013 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes: Rural-Urban Continuum Codes form a classification scheme that distinguishes metropolitan (metro) counties by the population size of their metro area, and nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) counties by degree of urbanization and adjacency to a metro area or areas:
1 = Counties in metro areas of 1 million population or more 2 = Counties in metro areas of 250,000 to 1 million population 3 = Counties in metro areas of fewer than 250,000 population 4 = Urban population of 20,000 or more, adjacent to a metro area 5 = Urban population of 20,000 or more, not adjacent to a metro area 6 = Urban population of 2,500 to 19,999, adjacent to a metro area 7 = Urban population of 2,500 to 19,999, not adjacent to a metro area 8 = Completely rural or less than 2,500 urban population, adjacent to a metro area 9 = Completely rural or less than 2,500 urban population, not adjacent to a metro area The above codes were regrouped into the following five categories: 1 = Metro >1M 2 = Metro 250K-1M 3 = Metro <250K 4, 5, 6, 7 = Smaller Urban 8, 9 = Rural

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Data Sources: The number of deaths and mortality rates for the state of Georgia were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records Program. The number of deaths and mortality rates for the United States were obtained from the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) and from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, National Cancer Institute. Mortality data were coded using ICD-9 (1980-1998) and ICD-10 codes (1999-2008, 2010-2011). The ICD-9 codes for breast cancer are 174.0-174.9, while the ICD-10 codes are C50.0:C50.9. The number of new cases and incidence rates for the state of Georgia were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry. The number of new cases and incidence rates for the United States were obtained from NAACCR. Incidence data were coded using ICD-O-3 codes (2005-2009). The ICD-O-3 codes used for breast cancer are C50.0:C50.9. Cancer stage and survival data for the United States were obtained from the National Cancer Institute, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Population estimates for 1980-2011 and the 2000 U.S. standard population were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Data regarding prevalence of risk factors such as exercise habits, alcohol use, overweight/obesity, insurance status, and breast cancer screening behaviors for Georgia were obtained from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and were analyzed for the year 2011 alone. For more information regarding hormone receptor status of breast cancer tumors and racial disparities: Lund MJ, et al. "Race and Triple Negative Threats to Breast Cancer Survival: A Population-based Study in Atlanta, GA." Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 2009 Jan; 113(2): 357-370. Methods: Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 population and age-adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. standard population. The incidence rates are five-year average annual rates for the period 2007 through 2011. Mortality rates were calculated per 100,000 population and age-adjusted by the direct method to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Except where calculated to show trends, the mortality rates are five-year average annual rates for 2006 through 2008, and 2010 through 2011.
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Appendix 1

Number of Incident Breast Cancer Cases and Age-Adjusted Breast Cancer Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population by Public Health District, by Race/Ethnicity, Georgia, 2007-2011

Public Health District
1-1 Rome 1-2 Dalton 2-0 Gainesville 3-1 Cobb/Douglas 3-2 Fulton 3-3 Clayton 3-4 East Metro 3-5 DeKalb 4-0 LaGrange 5-1 Dublin 5-2 Macon 6-0 Augusta 7-0 Columbus 8-1 Valdosta 8-2 Albany 9-1 Coastal 9-2 Waycross 10-0 Athens
Appendix 2

Total

Cases

Rate

1968

113.3

1324

112.4

2151

123.1

2635

129.1

3074

136.2

723

122.9

2909

129.0

2406

137.1

2647 123.2

445

99.8

1775 119.7

1669 128.9

1312 126.1

799

119.8

1214 116.9

1728 115.0

1015 104.8

1507 127.4

Non-Hispanic White

Cases

Rate

1744

113.3

1211

113.4

1992

127.0

1926

134.1

1591

146.2

214

125.1

1940

141.5

1006

147.5

1955

123.7

320

101.4

1152

123.6

985

125.3

736

124.1

577

123.4

736

114.0

1215

121.0

786

103.5

1208

129.1

Non-Hispanic Black

Cases

Rate

178

124.7

40

114.3

77

101.0

537

121.5

1322

131.6

461

131.6

620

119.8

1269

139.1

600

122.1

122

98.8

597

116.2

635

136.9

523

126.1

204

114.5

460

121.4

452

104.5

203

109.0

254

127.0

Hispanic

Cases Rate

43 111.5

58

84.4

73 104.8

142 134.5

99 129.3

34

87.9

207 119.1

77 120.4

66 134.4

*

*

*

*

24 110.8

44 197.4

*

*

*

*

45 124.6

*

*

38 120.4

Number of Breast Cancer Deaths and Age-Adjusted Breast Cancer Mortality Rates per 100,000 Population by Public Health District, by Race, Georgia, 2006-2011**

Public Health District

Total

White

Black

Deaths Rate

Deaths

Rate Deaths

Rate

1-2 Rome

418

24.4

368

23.4

45

31.4

1-2 Dalton

248

22.0

234

21.7

*

*

2-0 Gainesville

327

19.3

305

19.1

20

29.5

3-1 Cobb/Douglas

409

21.5

296

20.0

107

28.1

3-2 Fulton

580

27.0

239

20.9

334

35.5

3-3 Clayton

137

26.5

54

26.2

82

29.6

3-4 East Metro

450

22.3

328

22.8

107

24.5

3-5 DeKalb

445

26.4

170

21.0

271

32.8

4-0 LaGrange

475

22.6

334

20.5

139

30.8

5-1 Dublin

99

21.2

69

20.0

30

24.4

5-2 Macon

311

20.8

199

20.2

112

22.3

6-0 Augusta

301

23.1

166

19.9

131

28.7

7-0 Columbus

287

27.1

144

22.3

139

33.5

8-1 Valdosta

139

20.6

88

17.5

49

27.0

8-2 Albany

219

20.1

132

18.7

87

22.4

9-1 Coastal

323

21.8

208

20.1

110

25.9

9-2 Waycross

207

21.1

144

18.2

63

33.6

10-0 Athens

261

22.2

204

21.0

57

30.8

* Fewer than 20 cases/deaths; no rate calculated

** Because of data quality issues, 2009 cancer death data are not used for analysis. This report includes data for 2006-2008 and 2010-

2011 combined.

20