Breast Cancer Disparities:

The Urgent Need for Equity

Breast cancer affects all women, but not all women are affected equally. Racial and ethnic disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes continue to put non-white women—particularly Black women—at a significantly greater risk of dying from the disease.

 

Black Women

Despite having a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer than white women, Black women are 38% more likely to diefrom it, according to the American Cancer Society.

Key disparities include:

• Later Stage Diagnosis: Black women are more likely to be diagnosed when the disease is more advanced, limiting treatment options.

• Higher Rates of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: This aggressive subtype is more common in Black women and is less responsive to standard treatments.

• Systemic Barriers to Care: Insurance gaps, limited access to high-quality care, transportation challenges, and medical mistrust contribute to delayed screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

• Socioeconomic Inequities: These factors often intersect with systemic racism to create compounded disadvantages in outcomes.

• ​

Hispanic/Latina Women

Hispanic and Latina women also face significant challenges in breast cancer diagnosis and care.

• Later Detection: They are less likely to be diagnosed at early stages, often due to infrequent screenings or inadequate follow-up after abnormal results.

• Lifestyle Shifts: Adoption of Western dietary patterns—including higher intake of processed foods and red meat—has been linked to increased breast cancer risk compared to women living in Latin America.

• Cultural & Language Barriers: A lack of culturally appropriate healthcare information, language barriers, and cultural beliefs can reduce screening and treatment adherence.

 

Asian & Pacific Islander Women

Asian & Pacific Islander Women: While they have the lowest overall breast cancer incidence and mortality, early detection is more common—often linked to higher rates of routine screening.

​

American Indian & Native Alaskan Women

• American Indian & Alaska Native Women: Though incidence is lower than in white women, mortality remains higher compared to Asian and Pacific Islander women, pointing to issues in access and care continuity.

 

Closing the Gap: What Needs to Change

• Increase Awareness: Targeted education in underserved communities about breast cancer symptoms and risk factors is essential.

• Expand Access: Removing barriers to screening, early diagnosis, and treatment must be a national priority.

• Culturally Responsive Care: Health messaging and interventions should be tailored to meet the linguistic, cultural, and social needs of diverse populations.

• Address Systemic Bias: From screening guidelines to treatment decisions, racial and ethnic biases must be identified and dismantled across the healthcare system.

• Support Inclusive Research: More studies are needed to understand both the biological and social drivers of disparities—and to develop solutions that work for everyone.