Date of Award

Summer 7-30-2024

Embargo Period

8-13-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Health Administration

College

College of Health Professions

First Advisor

Daniel Brinton

Second Advisor

Mary Dooley

Third Advisor

Eva Karp

Abstract

Women dealing with a diagnosis of breast cancer may be challenged when attempting to seek and obtain medical care while living in a rural community. It is not known whether geography impacts the decision-making process for women considering elective breast cancer surgery (mastectomy versus breast conserving surgery (BCS)) in South Carolina. We performed a retrospective analysis of breast cancer surgical options offered to women to examine if a difference exists in both rural and urban settings. Although there was a higher proportion of women in South Carolina who elected to undergo a mastectomy instead of BCS (4,416 [79.5%] vs. 1,139 [20.5%]) no difference was noted in the type of surgery performed based on the woman’s geographical location.

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Copyright is held by the author. All rights reserved.

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Neoplasms Commons

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