Racial differences in suicide deaths after cancer diagnosis: A SEER-based analysis of 2,336,949 patients.

244 Background: Risk of suicide is increased after cancer diagnosis. Our study aims to investigate the racial differences on risk of suicide after cancer diagnosis in a nationwide cohort of U.S. patients. Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years and diagnosed with breast (n = 616,099; 26.4%), lung (n = 585,978; 25.0%), colorectal (n = 429,060; 18.4%), or prostate cancer (n = 705,812; 30.2%) from 1988-2010 in Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program (SEER) were identified. A Cox-proportional hazard model was used to compare the suicide mortality of the races (Hispanic white, African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native) to non-Hispanic white patients adjusting for age, sex, marital status, household income, education level and cancer sites. Results: A total of 2,336,949 patients were identified, and there were 3,406 suicide death events. Fifty percent of suicide deaths were within 32 months after cancer diagnosis (interquartile range: 66 months). After a median follow-up of 49 mont...