Staten island breast cancer research initiative: Birthplace, length of residence on staten island and accessibility to comprehensive cancer control centers and breast cancer mortality in older females

Staten Island, NY (SI) is downwind from the largest petrochemical industry in the world, Brookfield (EPA Superfund site) and, for over 50 years harbored the largest open dump, Fresh Kills Landfill. Women 55 and older are vulnerable to the effects of breast cancer in terms of mortality, prevention and treatment. New York City (NYC) is home to over half a million female residents in this increasing age category. Using breast cancer incidence and mortality data from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) respectively, it has been determined that SI has among the highest female breast cancer age-adjusted incidence and the highest age-adjusted mortality rate in NYC. Researchers at the Center for Environmental Science developed and validated a methodology for obtaining data from a combination of newspaper obituaries and death certificates. Death certificate data for breast cancer were obtained for 1980-1990 from NYCDOHMH and a set of female controls. Life histories were compiled through obituary interviews for both cases and controls for the Island. Logistic regression was used to analyze cases and controls of females ages 55 and older to examine potential differences in this age category. Preliminary analysis show a statistically significant increase in the risk for breast cancer mortality: [1] with birthplace on SI (p<0.01) and [2] with length of residence on SI (p<0.01). In addition, researchers also examined the availability and access to regional Cancer Control Centers (CCC's) in order to further examine treatment potential. All breast data and comprehensive cancer control centers were mapped using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Preliminary findings suggest that environmental contaminations during early life on SI may contribute more to breast cancer mortality compared with access and availability of comprehensive cancer treatment centers for SI females.