e12503 Background: The Medical Center of Louisiana, New Orleans (MCLNO) serves a metropolitan area and is the only hospital delivering care to the indigent population in the area. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans on 8/29/05. No oncology services were available for two years. We examined characteristics/care for patients with breast cancer 2 years after re-opening clinics compared with the subsequent 2.5 years. Differences between Whites (W) and African Americans (AA) were examined and compared to state and national averages. Methods: After IRB approval, we reviewed charts of patients establishing care for breast cancer at MCLNO between 09/07-05/12: Group 1 (09/07-08/09) vs. Group 2 (09/09 – 05/12). Racial analysis was done between W and AA independent of temporal factors. Results: Our cohort included 153 patients (25 W, 105 AA , and 23 other race): Group 1- 68 patients, Group 2- 85. There were no significant temporal or racial differences in age, race, insurance, menopausal status, family history, cancer type, stage, or treatment regimen. More AA were triple negative (25.5% AA, 0% W; p= 0.002). Compared to state and national averages, our patients underwent more mastectomies: 58% mastectomy (M) and 42% lumpectomy (L) - compared to Louisiana (M - 50.7%, L - 48.7%) and the National (M - 42.0%, L - 57.8%) data. Our cohort presented with more advanced disease: 10.5% presented with stage IV breast cancer, which is higher than the state average (6.0%) and the national average (5.5%). Conclusions: Despite the suspicion that tumor presentation would be worse after a delay in access to care due to Katrina and that AA might have even worse characteristics, our data showed this not to be the case. Interesting was the finding that triple negative cancers seemed to be an AA phenomenon. It is important to continue following these patients to see how these presenting and prognostic factors will affect long term patient outcomes. [Table: see text]
Physical Health Symptoms and Hurricane Katrina: Individual Trajectories of Development and Recovery More Than a Decade After the Storm
