Small but significant socioeconomic inequalities in axillary staging and treatment of breast cancer in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: The use of sentinel node biopsy (SNB), lymph node dissection, breast-conserving surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal treatment for breast cancer was evaluated in relation to socioeconomic status (SES) in the Netherlands, where access to care was assumed to be equal. METHODS: Female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 1994 and 2008 were selected from the nationwide population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry (N = 176 505). Socioeconomic status was assessed based on income, employment and education at postal code level. Multivariable models included age, year of dia... Mehr ...