Key Takeaways

Using data from 1998 to 2021, researchers found that American Indian and Alaska Native women have had no improvement in breast cancer mortality over the past three decades, despite a 10% lower incidence rate than White women.

Black women, similarly, experience a 38% higher mortality rate despite a 5% lower incidence. These outcomes underscore a pressing need for focused intervention and access to care.

“The reasons for these breast cancer disparities are many and often complex, and even mirror other health disparities among ethnic groups, including factors like socioeconomic status, variations in genetics, and differences in behavioral and cultural norms,” saidTingting Tan, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and hematologist atCity of Hopein Newport Beach, California.

Preventing Breast Cancer in Black Women

Why Is Breast Cancer Increasing in AAPI Women?

Tan said some cultural factors may be a barrier to AAPI women seeking care and support from their communities.

“We know that for some women, cancer can be a taboo topic,” she added. “The AAPI community is the only group whose leading cause of death is cancer, and this may be a significant factor as to why. The best way to stop cancer is to prevent it. However, the cultural obstacles, language barriers and lack of insurance all play a role in the progression of breast cancer in this community.”

Tan added that AAPI and other minority groups are often underrepresented in clinical trials, meaning that the trial results may not fully apply to those populations.

“Health systems and cancer care providers need to recognize how inequity affects their patient populations and use existing resources that do help ensure that everyone has access to current therapies,” Tan said.

Dense Breasts and Breast Cancer: An Overview

Delayed Screening Makes Treatments More Difficult

According to the report, only half of Native American women over 40 had a mammogram in the past two years, compared to 68% of White women.

Native Americans and Alaska Natives often receive care through Indian Health Service or tribal healthcare facilities, which may lack cancer screening services due to limited funding,Angela Giaquinto, MSPH, an associate scientist at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the new report.

Biennial mammography rates among Asian American women are also low, particularly for recent immigrants. Among women who have been in the U.S. for less than 10 years, only 48% report receiving biennial screenings. Recent research has also found that AAPI immigrants in the U.S. have higher breast cancer incidence than U.S.-born AAPI women.

“This is likely due to barriers such as insurance, language, and cultural differences. Some research has also found that due to lower rates of breast cancer among AAPI women, they may be misinformed about risks and believe screening is not needed,” Giaquinto said.

Tan noted that socioeconomic barriers often make healthcare access challenging for minority populations.

“We know that a lack of access to high-quality screening and treatment are heavily rooted in societal inequity,” Tan said. “Social factors, such as income levels, education, employment, living conditions and access to social and family support may drastically impact a person’s health.”

Unfortunately, a delay in screening could lead to later-stage diagnoses, making treatment more challenging.

“Somebody diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer has a much higher cure rate than stage 3, and stage 4 breast cancer is not curable,” saidErika Hamilton, MD, director of breast cancer research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) in Nashville, TN. “If we saw all people routinely getting mammograms and feeling free to raise questions, we could see a significant decrease in breast cancer deaths.”

How Can You Reduce Breast Cancer Risk?

TheAmerican Cancer Societyrecommends that women begin annual mammograms at age 40. From age 45 to 54, yearly mammograms are advised. Once 55, women not at high risk can opt for a mammogram every other year. Those with a family history of breast cancer may need to alert their primary healthcare provider so they can get screened earlier than 40.

Hamilton noted that people who don’t have theBRCA gene mutations(which increase the risk of ovarian and breast cancer) should still be proactive about screening.

“Less than 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary, so even people that don’t have family history are still at risk,” Hamilton said.

In May 2024, the ACS began theVOICES of Black Womenstudy, which seeks to identify the breast cancer risk factors that are unique to Black women. Researchers are looking for 100,000 Black women in the U.S. between the ages of 25 and 55 from a wide range of backgrounds with no previous history of breast cancer. Enrollment is still open.

Monthly breast self-exams will help you become familiar with your breast tissue so you will notice if anything is different. If you detect a lump in your breast, seek medical advice right away, saidAmanda Schwer, MD, a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer at City of Hope in Irvine, CA.

Schwer added that even young women should alert their doctor about anything new or unusual in their breasts.

“Be proactive with your breast health. Do self-exams and get your mammograms on time,” Schwer said.

What Do Breast Cancer Lumps Feel Like?

What This Means For YouA new report highlights that while breast cancer treatment has improved, not everyone benefits equally. Staying proactive with cancer screenings can make a critical difference. Discuss your individual risk factors with your healthcare provider, and if you’re over 40, schedule regular mammograms.

What This Means For You

A new report highlights that while breast cancer treatment has improved, not everyone benefits equally. Staying proactive with cancer screenings can make a critical difference. Discuss your individual risk factors with your healthcare provider, and if you’re over 40, schedule regular mammograms.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Newman LA, et al.Breast cancer statistics 2024.CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;1-19. doi:10.3322/caac.21863Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858National Cancer Institute.For Cancer Screening, COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Obstacles, Opportunities.American Cancer Society.Can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Newman LA, et al.Breast cancer statistics 2024.CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;1-19. doi:10.3322/caac.21863Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858National Cancer Institute.For Cancer Screening, COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Obstacles, Opportunities.American Cancer Society.Can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Newman LA, et al.Breast cancer statistics 2024.CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;1-19. doi:10.3322/caac.21863Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858National Cancer Institute.For Cancer Screening, COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Obstacles, Opportunities.American Cancer Society.Can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

Giaquinto AN, Sung H, Newman LA, et al.Breast cancer statistics 2024.CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;1-19. doi:10.3322/caac.21863

Islami F, Marlow EC, Thomson B, et al.Proportion and number of cancer cases and deaths attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors in the United States, 2019.CA A Cancer J Clinicians. 2024;74(5):405-432. doi:10.3322/caac.21858

National Cancer Institute.For Cancer Screening, COVID-19 Pandemic Creates Obstacles, Opportunities.

American Cancer Society.Can I lower my risk of breast cancer?

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