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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Identification Of Ovarian Cancer Symptoms In Health Insurance Claims Data., Paula Diehr, Sean Devlin
Identification Of Ovarian Cancer Symptoms In Health Insurance Claims Data., Paula Diehr, Sean Devlin
Paula Diehr
Background: Women with ovarian cancer have reported abdominal=pelvic pain, bloating, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary frequency=urgency prior to diagnosis. We explored these findings in a general population using a dataset of insured women aged 40–64 and investigated the potential effectiveness of a routine review of claims data as a prescreen to identify women at high risk for ovarian cancer. Methods: Data from a large Washington State health insurer were merged with the Seattle-Puget Sound Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registry for 2000–2004. We estimated the prevalence of symptoms in the 36 months prior to diagnosis …
Treatment Modality And Quality Differences For Black And White Breast Cancer Patients Treated In Community Hospitals, Paula Diehr
Treatment Modality And Quality Differences For Black And White Breast Cancer Patients Treated In Community Hospitals, Paula Diehr
Paula Diehr
This study assessed the relationship of race and patterns of care, defined by an expert NCI-appointed committee, for 7,781 patients with breast cancer treated in 107 hospitals in 45 communities between 1982 and 1985. After control for age and stage of disease, black patients had significantly different care from white patients for four of the ten patterns examined. They were less likely to have a progesterone receptor assay or to be referred for postmastectomy rehabilitation, two patterns deemed desirable for all patients. Black patients were also more likely to receive liver scans and radiation therapy in situations in which these …
The Effect Of Age On The Care Of Women With Breast Cancer In Community Hospitals, Paula Diehr, Joe Chu
The Effect Of Age On The Care Of Women With Breast Cancer In Community Hospitals, Paula Diehr, Joe Chu
Paula Diehr
We studied the process of care received by 1,680 female breast cancer patients treated in 17 community hospitals. The probability of receiving various diagnostic, consultation, therapy, or rehabilitation services was almost always significantly associated with patient age for one or more disease stages. Most often there was a linear trend for older patients to receive fewer services (e.g., biopsies prior to definitive treatment, number of lymph nodes examined, chemotherapy, radiation therapy) but other age patterns also were found. Age was not significantly associated with clinical staging or estrogen receptors.