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Breast Cancer Practice Patterns at VA Hospitals: Implications for Future Research

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Cancer Policy: Research and Methods

Abstract

Cancer incidence among women veterans has been estimated to be twice that of the general population.[1] Current estimates that one out of nine American women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime [2], translates into an estimated 133,000 veterans who will develop breast cancer. Currently there are over 1.2 million women veterans in the United States and approximately 10% of active duty military officers and enlisted personnel are women.[1,3] One out of every ten women veterans have used inpatient services at a VA hospital since leaving the service.[3] In particular, the use of breast cancer screening and treatment services by female veterans has been substantial and is increasing steadily. In Fiscal Year (FY) 1994, over 1,300 women had a breast cancer-related admission to a VA hospital.[4] With the current breast cancer incidence estimates, the aging of the women veteran population and the increasing demand for women ’s health care services at VA hospitals — and for breast cancer care in particular — practice patterns at VA hospitals can have dramatic impacts on the health of women veterans.

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© 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Hynes, D.M., Hines, E., Bastian, L.A. (1998). Breast Cancer Practice Patterns at VA Hospitals: Implications for Future Research. In: Bennett, C.L., Stinson, T.J. (eds) Cancer Policy: Research and Methods. Cancer Treatment and Research, vol 97. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-30498-4_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-585-30498-4_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-8203-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-585-30498-4

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