The effect of social factors on diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

This study was made to evaluate the influence of the socio-economic status of a particular population in Northern Antwerp on the epidemiology and treatment of breast cancer. Data concerning patient characteristics, breast cancer pathology, treatment and socio-economical factors were compared with regional, national and worldwide literature. The patients in this series were generally older (61% more than 65 years) and tumour stage was more advanced (only 23% T1 tumours). Treatment therefore was more aggressive. The patients in our population had a lower level of education and lower income, and from a social point of view were more disadvantaged: 21% belonged to the social category of widow(er)s and orphans, while 3% had no social security. Thirty percent of patients in this series declared that late hospitalization depended on their social or financial situation. Preventive care and medical services should therefore be directed to socially and financially disabled classes of patients.