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SAINT VINCENT
HEALTH SYSTEM

232 West 25 Street
Erie, PA 16544

April 15, 2001

Health Report:
Breast Cancer in African American Women
with Saint Vincent Obstetrician/ Gynecologist Andrea Jeffress, M.D.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer death. According to the American Cancer Society, during 2001, about 19,300 new cases will be diagnosed in this group and 5800 will die from it. more . . .

 

 

Health & Fitness

African American Breast Cancer Facts
From
Sisters Network, Inc.

In 2001, an estimated 19,300 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women. It ranks second among causes of cancer deaths in African American women. Death rates among African American women are approximately 28% higher than among white women. Additionally, the African American woman's 5-year breast cancer survival rate is 71%, compared with 86% for white women.

The following is a partial list of African-American Breast Cancer Statistics:

Research strongly suggests that breast cancer in African-American women is biologically more aggressive than in white American women.1
African-American women were the only racial/ethnic group to experience an increase in breast cancer incidence between 1990 and 1995. 2
The incidence of breast cancer among women under the age of forty-five is higher for African-American women compared to white women. 3
The number of breast cancer deaths among African-American women is rising; among Caucasian women the number is falling.4

Historically, African-Americans have availed themselves to self-medicinal practices. Prior to the "modern age of medicine", part of our culture and shared heritage included:

remedies past down from generation to generation
suffering in silence
the unquestioned roles of the sexes
taboos associated with the body
fears of shame and isolation
not wanting to know
never to question an authority figure
non-shared medical history
primary provider for family
unwilling or unable to verbally communicate true feelings, fears, etc.

What are the risk factors?

Gender
Age
Heredity/Genetic Factors
Long menstrual history
Never having children
Hormones
Personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
Environmental factors

*Over 74% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women with no identifiable risk factors.

What are the warning signs?

Lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast
Swelling, redness or increased warmth in the breast
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Itchy, sore or scaling area on the nipple/areola
Nipple discharge (particularly if bloody) that starts suddenly
Pulling in of the nipple
Dimpling or puckering of the skin on the breast
Unusual pain in an area of the breast

What should you do?

The best defense against breast cancer starts with you!

Sisters Network, Inc. recommends these steps for early detection:

Monthly breast self-exam (BSE) starting at age 20*
Clinical breast examination by a trained medical professional every 2-3 years beginning at age 20, and annually after age 40
Mammography screening every one to two years for women ages 35-40 (If your mother or sister has had breast cancer, you may need to get mammogram earlier and more frequently)
Annual mammography screening for women age 40+*
Breast ultrasound is frequently useful in evaluating breast and mammographic abnormalities, especially in young women

*BSE should be done just as your period ends or for post-menopausal women, the same day each month. Most women discover breast masses during monthly breast self-examination. This simple and easy to follow examination allows a woman to become more familiar with her breast, making the detection of subtle changes or abnormities easier.

**Women receiving annual mammography screening are 30% less likely to die from breast cancer compared to unscreened women.

What are the factors that place a woman at increased risk for breast cancer?

Every woman has some risk for developing breast cancer during her lifetime, and that risk increases as she ages. However, the risk of developing breast cancer is not the same for all women. These are the some factors known to increase a woman's chance of developing this disease:

Personal History: Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop a second breast cancer.
Family History: The risk of getting breast cancer increases for a woman whose mother, sister, or daughter has had the disease; or who has two or more close relatives, such as cousins or aunts, with a history of breast cancer (especially if diagnosed before age 40). About 5 percent of women with breast cancer have a hereditary form of this disease.
Genetic Alterations: Specific alterations in certain genes, such as those in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2, make women more susceptible to breast cancer.
Abnormal Biopsy: Women with certain abnormal breast conditions, such as atypical hyperplasia or LCIS (lobular carcinoma in situ), are at increased risk.
Other conditions associated with an increased risk of breast cancer: Having children at a later age or never having children at all, early onset of menses, taking hormones over an extended period of time, and exposure to environmental hazards.

What is the best method of detecting breast cancer as early as possible?

A high-quality mammogram, with a clinical breast exam, is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Using a mammogram, it is possible to detect breast cancer that cannot be felt. However, like any test, mammograms have both benefits and limitations.

How much does a mammogram cost?

Most screening mammograms cost between $50 and $150. Most states now have laws requiring health insurance companies to reimburse all or part of the cost of screening mammograms. Details can be provided by insurance companies and health care providers.

Medicare pays 80% of the cost of a screening mammogram each year for beneficiaries age 40 or older. There is no deductible requirement for this benefit, but Medicare beneficiaries are responsible for a 20% co-payment of the Medicare-approved amount. Information on coverage is available through the Medicare Hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE. Some state and local health programs and employers provide mammograms free or at low cost. Information on low-cost or free mammography screening programs is available through the NCI's Cancer Information at 1-800-4-CANCER.

References
1 Chen et al 1994
2 Wingo et al 1998
3 National Institute of Health SEER
4 Marry Harris PhD, Medical Writer CBS HealthWatch

Sisters Network, Inc. was founded in October 1993, by Karen Jackson after her own diagnosis of breast cancer.  Ms. Jackson sought support and found "first, a lack of culturally sensitive material and second, that the support available left a void. The information and services offered to the African-American community on breast cancer was minimal." Ms. Jackson Submerged herself in medical journals, attended conferences, networked with health professionals and shared one-on-one with other breast cancer survivors.  After which, Ms. Jackson's self-buoyed spirits conceived the idea of a national organization of African-American breast cancer survivors. Her approach was to create an organization that would provide a warm and nurturing environment for women to share experiences, bond, rebuild and find comfort that they are not alone in their journey back to wholeness.

 

Hot Topic:

Our national
slogan is
Stop the Silence!

It is our mission to increase local and national attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African-American community.

 

www.FemmeNoir.net ©2001

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