Obstacles encountered in the use of the medical record and cancer registry abstract in breast cancer research.

A historical-prospective study is being conducted to determine whether there is a relationship between obesity and breast cancer recurrence and survival in African-American women. The primary data sources for the study are the medical record and cancer registry abstract. It has been found that data items such as occupation, menopausal status, height, weight, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor values, stage, tumor size, number of positive nodes, family history of cancer, and tumor status are not always documented. Suggestions for improving documentation of the primary data sources are provided.