6137 Background: African Americans are more likely to die from breast, colon and lung cancer compared to whites. They are also less likely to receive and complete recommended therapy. The reasons for this are unknown. Methods: Breast, colon, and lung cancer patients eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy (stage IB-III breast, stage IIB-III colon, and Stage IB, II lung) and who received surgery at 2 urban medical centers, were approached between 2008 and 2010 and completed a self-administered survey focusing on sociodemographic factors, including social support, anxiety, depression, co-morbidities, trust and God Locus of Control (e.g., Whatever happens to my cancer is God’s will). These variables were related to receipt and completion of chemotherapy. 191 patients were approached, 161 consented and 30 refused (16%); out of the 161, 23 were deemed ineligible because of previous cancers, non-curative stage or receipt of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Results: Final sample consisted of 138 pts. Median age: 54; sex:81% F; Race/Ethnicity:47% AA, 38% white, 9% Hispanic, 6% Asian/PI; Cancer Type: 73% Breast, 21% Colon, 6% Lung. Compared to whites, AA were more likely to have incomes<20K (35% vs. 10%, p=.0002), have any comorbidities (80% vs. 57%, p=0.006), and have high levels of God Locus of Control (56% vs 27%, p=0.003). There were no differences by race in chemotherapy receipt (89% vs. 88%) or relative dose intensity (RDI) of chemo>=85% (58% vs. 67%). No factor in our model predicted chemotherapy receipt or RDI at a significant level. Pts with high God Locus of Control were somewhat more likely to start chemotherapy (OR 1.7, p=0.25) but were less likely to complete therapy (OR 0.55, p=0.19). The magnitude of these relationships held after controlling for age, race, comorbidities, cancer type, functional status, and social support. Conclusions: In a mixed sociodemographic cohort of patients, receipt and completion of adjuvant chemotherapy was similar by measured sociodemographic variables. Only high God Locus of Control was suggestive of being less likely to complete chemotherapy. Further attention and research on the role of religious beliefs in the cancer decision making process is warranted.
