Contact: Joe Martin
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PHC4 RELEASES BREAST CANCER SURGERY RATES IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Harrisburg, PA - October 2, 2018 - According to a research brief released today by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), there were 11,717 breast cancer surgeries performed in Pennsylvania in 2017—a number that has been fairly stable over the past decade.

“Releasing this brief in October—National Breast Cancer Awareness Month—helps raise awareness on how breast cancer affects Pennsylvania residents,” said Joe Martin, PHC4’s Executive Director. “Providing breast cancer surgery data by county can help communities understand needs at the local level,” added Martin.

The report looks at surgery rates for both mastectomy (full removal of the breast tissue) and lumpectomy (partial removal of the breast tissue). In 2017, a higher percent of patients underwent lumpectomy, 71.0% of all breast cancer surgeries, which is an increase from 2008 when lumpectomy procedures represented 60.5% of all breast cancer surgeries.

At 46.0%, patients aged 45-64 made up the largest portion of the surgeries; 42.1% were for patients aged 65-84, 8.1% were for patients aged 18-44, and 3.8% were for patients aged 85 and older.

Commercial insurance was the payer for 46.4% of the surgeries; Medicare and Medicaid were the payers for 44.7% and 7.1% of surgeries, respectively.

From a population-based perspective, statewide, there were 20.8 breast cancer surgeries performed per 10,000 female residents. Those aged 65-84 had the highest rate at 43.1 per 10,000 residents, followed by those aged 45-64 with a rate of 27.9 per 10,000 residents.

Rates were higher among white (non-Hispanic) females at 22.3 per 10,000. Rates for black (non-Hispanic) and Hispanic females were 19.8 and 7.3, respectively.

The rates were 13.7 for female residents living in high poverty areas (where 40% or more of the population lives in poverty) and 23.6 for female residents living in low poverty areas (where less than 10% of the population lives in poverty).

County-level population-based rates are also included in the brief.

The brief is available on PHC4's website at www.phc4.org. You can also link to it through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

PHC4 is an independent state agency charged with collecting, analyzing and reporting information that can be used to improve the quality and restrain the cost of health care in Pennsylvania.