Breast Cancer Disparities

Breast cancer, a cancer that develops in the breasts, is a cancer that can severely affect many people. During breast cancer, breast cells begin to grow abnormally. These cells divide more rapidly than healthy cells do, which causes a massive lump to form. After this process, some obvious symptoms show up, including a newly inverted nipple, redness over the breast, and dimpling of the breast. (source)

Unfortunately, breast cancer is extremely common. During 2009-2013, approximately 221,000 breast cancers were diagnosed annually, and during 2010-2014, approximately 41,000 deaths from breast cancer have occurred annually. While breast cancer affects people of all ethnicities, breast cancer mortality has been proven to be 41% higher among Black women (29.2 deaths per 100,000 population) than white women (20.6 deaths in 100,000 population). Additionally, breast cancer death rates have decreased faster among white women (-1.9% annually) than among Black women (-1.5% annually). (source)

First, a major leading factor for Black people being more susceptible to breast cancer is obesity. Being medically overweight leads to an increased rate in getting diagnosed. Oftentimes, Black people also tend to be racially discriminated against and end up living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods where grocery stores are scarce, and sidewalks are not maintained. These factors limit Black people from maintaining the health they need in order to stay at a healthy weight. (source)

Additionally, Black people are also more likely to get breast cancer because they are likely to reach puberty earlier. Studies have shown that Black girls are 40% more likely than white girls to begin mentustration before age 11. These results have shown to correlate with higher rates of obesity and miscarriage. (source)

Although breast cancer disparities are still a huge problem today, solutions are being provided, and there is hope that things can change! There is so much that YOU can do to help out: increase community awareness; set priorities among disparities to be addressed at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels; advocate many reasons for expending resources; and the list continues. It’s the little things you can do that make a difference. 

By: Emily Wang

Editor: Sreenidhi Saripalli