conserving surgery plus radiation." The odds of undergoing breast-conserving surgery plus radiation decreased by about 3 percent for every 5-mile increase in the distance to the treatment facility. Other factors associated with an increased risk of undergoing mastectomy included older age at diagnosis, being black or Hispanic compared with being white non-Hispanic, being single or widowed compared with being married or separated or divorced, and being uninsured or covered under Medicaid as opposed to having private or Medicare coverage. "Future efforts should target the uninsured, Hispanics, the elderly, and unmarried women to reduce disparities in the administration of breast-conserving surgery plus radiation for local breast carcinoma," the researchers conclude.
