Are there socioeconomic gradients in stage and grade of breast cancer at diagnosis? Cross sectional analysis of UK cancer registry data

Abstract

We assessed progression of breast cancer (ICD-10 C50) as both stage and grade at diagnosis. We defined advanced stage as nodal or metastatic spread and high grade as poorly differentiated, undifferentiated, or anaplastic disease. We used Townsend deprivation scores of enumeration district of residence at registration—from 1991 census data standardised to the Northern and Yorkshire region as a whole—to quantify socioeconomic position.