Breast cancer incidence and mortality, by age, stage and molecular subtypes, by race/ethnicity in Canada

Abstract

Background Breast cancer (BC) characteristics and outcomes in Canada related to race/ethnicity are not currently documented. Methods Age-specific and age-standardized BC incidence and mortality rates, age distribution of cases, proportions of stage, and molecular subtypes were calculated for women aged 20+, by race/ethnicity, using 2006 and 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort databases of linked census, cancer, and death data. Results In 47 105 BC cases, age-specific incidence rates were higher in Filipina (rate ratio (RR)=1.27, 95%CI, 1.11-1.46) and multiethnicity (RR=1.57, 95% CI, 1.18-2.08) compared to White women aged 40-49; and Filipina (RR=1.16, 95% CI, 1.02-1.31) and Arab (RR=1.3, 95% CI, 1.02-1.65) women aged 50-59. Median age at diagnosis was 63 among White women and 52-60 among other race/ethnicity groups, with 22.4%-41.1% of cases (P