Analysis of Breast Cancer and Surgery as Treatment Options

Abstract

In this case, we analyze breast cancer cases from the Thomson Medstat Market Scan® data using SAS and Enterprise Guide 4. First, we find breast cancer cases using ICD9 codes. We are interested in the age distribution, in the total charges of the entire treatment sequence and in the length of stay at the hospital during treatment. Then, we study two major surgery treatments: Mastectomy and Lumpectomy. For each one of them, we analyze the total charges and the length of stay. Then, we compare these two treatments in terms of total charges, length of stay and the association of the choice of treatment with age. Finally, we analyze other treatment options. The objective is to understand the methods used to obtain some useful information about breast cancer and also to explore how to use SAS and SAS Enterprise Guide 4 to examine specific healthcare problems.