Geographic and Hospital Variation in the Management of Older Women With Breast Cancer.

Geographic and hospital characteristics function as predictors of the treatment of older women with breast cancer in the United States. Women are more likely to receive breast-conserving treatment if treated in the New England or mid Atlantic states. This treatment also is more widely used if women are treated in urban rather than rural areas, in teaching rather than nonteaching hospitals, in larger hospitals, in hospitals with radiation or geriatric services, or if treated by a surgeon who performs a higher volume of breast cancer surgeries. Breast cancer treatments vary substantially according to nonclinical factors.