Variations in outcomes by residential location for women with breast cancer

This systematic review examined the current literature for geographical variations in breast cancer outcomes across the continuum of care for Australian women. 74 studies were included, of which 59% were considered high quality and 34% were moderate quality. A general pattern of poorer survival and variations in clinical management for Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer from non-metropolitan areas was evident. There was good evidence that the poorer survival for non-metropolitan women reflects more advanced disease at diagnosis, greater comorbidities, treatment-related factors and area-level disadvantage. The review also identified key gaps in the existing literature including a lack of studies on advanced breast cancer, and patient preferences on post-treatment follow-up.   Read the full article