Exploring educational disparities in breast cancer dynamics: a comprehensive analysis of incidence, death within 5 years of diagnosis, and mortality in the Belgian context.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer worldwide. Belgium shows high age-standardized incidence rates, but also high survival rates. Like many health outcomes, breast cancer has been associated with multiple factors of socioeconomic status. This paper aims to (a) map educational differences in breast cancer incidence, mortality and death rates within 5 years of diagnosis, (b) update earlier trends in breast cancer mortality rates in Belgium for the 2004-2013 period and (c) investigate the role of fertility indicators as mediating factors in the association between education and breast cancer outcomes.

Methods

Data consisted of a linkage between the 2001 Belgian Census, register data on mortality and cancer incidence data (2004-2013) from the Belgian Cancer Reg

SUBMITTER: Gotink J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11562307 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature