Using the Cancer Registry of the New York State Health Department it has been determined that Staten Island (Richmond County) has the highest age-adjusted breast cancer rates among women in the metropolitan region. We are investigating an association between breast cancer and length of residence on Staten Island, occupation and other risk factors. Researchers at Center For Environmental Science developed and validated a methodology for obtaining data from the combination of newspaper obituaries and death certificates. Death Certificate data for the calendar years 1980 through 1990 for female breast cancer (ICD 174) were obtained from NYCDOH (New York City Department of Health). A set of controls who died during the same time period of diseases other than cancer were selected. The controls were randomly matched by age (+ 1 year) and year of death (+ 3 years). Life histories were complied through obituaries for both cases and controls (371 cases and their controls). The data set includes demographic information (sex, age, date of birth, place of birth, country of origin, religion, date of death, ethnicity, census tract, health area, zip code), residential history and occupational history. Preliminary analysis using logistic regression has demonstrated statistically significant increased risk of breast cancer death associated with length of residence on Staten Island. Future work will examine occupational exposures and other risk factors.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Breast Cancer, Population
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.