Comparing Stage at Diagnosis Among Patients With Breast Cancer Served by Military and Civilian Medical Care Systems.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) remains one of the top causes of cancer-related deaths in women in the United States, and little is known about the differences in access to health care between military and civilians. This study compared the differences in access to health care between military and civilian female patients with BC. In particular, this study examined whether patients with BC, in an equal access health care system such as the military, are diagnosed at an earlier stage of disease process in comparison to the patients with BC in the civilian health care system.