Presentation, tumour and treatment features in immigrant women from Arabic‐speaking countries treated for breast cancer in Australia

Abstract

Background Australia has a large population of immigrant women from Arabic‐speaking countries. The aim of this study was to examine breast cancer tumour and surgical treatment features for women born in Arabic‐speaking countries and compare them to women born in Australia and other countries. Another aim was to consider how this information can inform clinical care for this multicultural population. Methods This is a retrospective audit of an institutional breast cancer database. Demographic, tumour and surgical treatment data were extracted for the Arab women and compared to Australian‐born women (comparison 1) and to women born in all other countries (comparison 2); chi‐squared analysis was performed to test for differences between groups. Results A total of 2086 cases with country of birth information were identified, of whom 139 women (6.7%) were born in Arabic‐speaking countries, 894 (42.8%) were born in Australia and 1053 (50.4%) were born in other countries (71 nations). Arab women tended to be younger (P = 0.013), more disadvantaged (P < 0.001), were more likely to have symptomatic rather than screen‐detected breast cancer (P < 0.001), had a higher rate of high grade (P = 0.021), HER2‐positive (P = 0.025) breast cancer compared to Australian‐born women or others. There was no difference in tumour (pT) stage, rate of breast conservation versus mastectomy, re‐excision and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy between groups. Australian‐born women were more likely to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy (P < 0.001); reconstruction rate was >29% in all groups. Conclusion Women born in Arabic‐speaking countries were younger, more disadvantaged and showed more aggressive tumour features. This has implications for supportive care during treatment and survivorship.

Incidence of breast cancer subtypes in immigrant and non-immigrant women in Norway

“…One study from New Zealand found Asian women to be more likely to have grade III and HER2+ breast cancers compared to women of European ancestry [ 24 ]. Another study found Arab women living in Australia to be younger and have more tumors of high grade and HER2+ subtype compared to non-immigrant women [ 25 ].…”

General practitioners are key to increasing Australia’s low rate of breast reconstruction

“…8 Some specialist Australian centres that are committed to offering breast reconstruction to all suitable patients (both public and private) have reported immediate reconstruction rates of more than 40%, whereas one-third of 104 metropolitan hospitals that performed mastectomy in 2013 did no breast reconstruction. 1,9,10 The low overall national rate in Australia suggests that there is a large proportion of women who would be interested in breast reconstruction who are not given the option. Further evidence for this lack of opportunity is supported by a member survey by Breast Cancer Network Australia, which found that many women did not receive information about breast reconstruction at the time of their mastectomy, or that they had to initiate the discussion and/or referral themselves.…”