Health & Fitness

BREAST CANCER AND
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN

How common is breast
cancer in African American women?

Many African American women have heard that breast cancer is more common in their community. Nationwide studies suggest that, overall, the lifelong chances of having breast cancer are similar for African American women compared with Caucasian women in the United States. African American women are slightly more likely than Caucasian women to develop breast cancer before age 50, and slightly less likely to develop breast cancer after age 50.

The overall chances of developing breast cancer for African American women are listed below, with nationwide and Caucasian comparisons listed beside:

*Rates are per 100,000

The overall chances of dying from breast cancer for African American women are listed below, with nationwide and Caucasian comparisons listed beside:

*Rates are per 100,000
**The above information was taken from SEER data and can be found on the Internet (www.seer.ims.nci.nih.gov/).

How does breast cancer in African American women differ from breast cancer in other women?

A recent study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that African American women are more than twice as likely as Caucasian women to die from breast cancer. There have been a significant number of studies done in an attempt to understand why this is so. Some have wondered if breast cancer in African American women is somehow fundamentally different than breast cancer in other groups. Researchers have studied the tumors of African American women and compared them to tumors of other groups of women. Overall, we have not yet discovered any basic differences in the disease between populations.

One well-known fact about breast cancer is that more African American women are diagnosed with larger tumors and with spread of their breast cancer to the lymph nodes and to other parts of the body. When breast cancers are found at more advanced stages, it is more difficult to treat, and survival rates are lower.

What are the most effective treatments for
breast cancer in African American women?

Current breast cancer treatments appear to be equally effective for African American women and Caucasian women. There are no data to suggest that any treatments are more effective for African American women, but there may be some barriers to appropriate treatment.

Breast cancer treatment, especially if it involves chemotherapy or radiation therapy, is time consuming as well as emotionally and physically draining for patients and their families. Women, who are often the care givers for their children, partners, and their parents may now need someone to care for them if they are to complete treatment. Breast cancer treatment can also be expensive, even if insurance covers the actual costs of treatment. While women are receiving treatment, there is the additional cost of travel to and from the medical center where they receive treatment. In addition, there may be additional costs for childcare, care for elderly parents, or care to manage a home while the woman is recovering. Women may also lose wages as they may be unable to work or forced to reduce their work hours during treatment. For low-income women, these are real barriers to receiving full treatment. Some women may be unable to complete all recommended treatment for these and other reasons. Many African American women have low incomes, therefore many African American women may have poorer survival chances because they cannot complete full treatment.

What can African American women do to decrease
their chances of dying from breast cancer?

There has been an increase in the past 5 years in the number of women receiving regular breast cancer screening with clinical breast exams by their doctors and mammograms. However, African American women have fewer mammograms than Caucasian women. Researchers have shown that African American women who have regular mammograms have the same excellent chances of surviving breast cancer as all other groups of women. Mammograms detect breast cancers at a much earlier stage that breast examinations alone. These early tumors can be more easily treated and are more likely to be cured.

All states and territories of the United States have programs that cover the cost of mammograms if your insurance does not. Contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 to find the locations of these services in your community.

New exciting studies suggest that drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene may prevent breast cancer in women at high risk of getting the disease, including The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) sponsored by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP). Women who wish to receive information about the trial when it becomes available can contact the NSABP by mail (NSABP, Box 21, Pittsburgh, PA 15261); by fax (412/330-4660), or through the Internet (www.nsabp.pitt.edu). More studies are urgently needed, especially of African American women to make sure that these treatments are equally effective in this community.

For More Information...

You can find out more about breast cancer and African American women by contacting the following organizations:

American Cancer Society
Cancer Information Service
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Contributions to this FAQ on Breast Cancer and African American Women: Boston University, a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health sponsored by the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services

All material contained in the FAQs is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services; citation of the source is appreciated.

Source: 

National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/faq/breastafrc.htm