Breast Cancer Provider Interval Length in Fukushima, Japan, After the 2011 Triple Disaster: A Long-Term Retrospective Study

Clin Breast Cancer. 2020 Apr;20(2):e127-e150. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2019.07.008. Epub 2019 Sep 6.

Abstract

Background: Minimizing the interval from symptom onset to treatment commencement is essential for a favorable outcome among breast cancer (BC) patients. This study examined whether provider interval (time elapsed from first consultation to treatment initiation) lengthened among BC patients after Japan's 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Fukushima. Factors associated with the length of postdisaster interval and whether the interval was associated with BC stage were also investigated.

Patients and methods: So-so District (study site) was an area damaged by the 2011 disasters. Data of all BC patients who made their first medical consultation and received initial treatment at the core medical institutions in the area 5 years before or after the disaster were extracted from patient medical records. We used several regression approaches to fulfill our study objectives.

Results: We included 263 (140 predisaster and 123 postdisaster) patients. After adjustment for covariates, the interval did not significantly change after the disaster compared to before the disaster. Those with 4 or 5 cohabiting family members experienced a shorter interval after the disaster than those with 0 or 1 cohabiting family members (relative length, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.78). Those with an interval of > 60 days had lower odds of stage III or IV cancer after the disaster than those with an interval of < 30 days (odds ratio, 0.09; 95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.84).

Conclusion: Overall, provider interval did not lengthen after the disaster. However, those with fewer cohabiting family members might have experienced a longer total interval. Cancer stage may not necessarily reflect the influence of interval on patient outcome.

Keywords: Breast neoplasms; Delayed diagnosis; Fukushima nuclear accident; Health services accessibility; Social support.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Delayed Diagnosis / statistics & numerical data
  • Disasters*
  • Earthquakes
  • Female
  • Fukushima Nuclear Accident
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration
  • Health Services Accessibility / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Mass Screening / organization & administration
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / organization & administration
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Time-to-Treatment / statistics & numerical data
  • Tsunamis