What is the risk of breast cancer for African American Women?

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American women. An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009. The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than in white women. Among younger women (under age 40), however, the incidence is higher in African Americans than in whites. Breast cancer incidence rates increased rapidly among African American women during the 1980s, largely due to increased detection as the use of mammography screening increased. Incidence rates stabilized among African American women aged 50 and older during 1995-2005, while rates decreased by 0.7% per year among women under age 50 from 1991-2005. At this time, there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, which is why regular mammograms are so important. A woman’s best overall preventive health strategy is to reduce her known risk factors as much as possible by avoiding weight gain and obesity, engaging in regular physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake. Women should consider the increased risk of breast cancer associated with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use when evaluating treatment options for menopausal symptoms. More information about breast cancer is available in the American Cancer Society publication Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, available online at www.cancer.org.

Survival Rate

The 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed in 1996-2004 among African American women was 77%, compared to 90% among whites. This difference can be attributed to both later stage at detection and poorer stage-specific survival among African American women. Only about half (51%) of breast cancers diagnosed among African American women are diagnosed at a local stage, compared to 62% among white women. Within each stage, 5-year survival is also lower among African American women.
Studies have documented unequal receipt of prompt, high-quality treatment for African American women compared to white women. There is also evidence that aggressive tumor characteristics are more common in African American than white women. Other studies suggest factors associated with socioeconomic status may influence the biologic behavior of breast cancer. Thomson and colleagues, studying an all white Scottish population, suggest that poor women with breast cancers are more likely to be diagnosed with estrogen receptor-negative tumors. Poverty likely influences disease pathology and genetic markers of disease through lifelong dietary and reproductive habits.

What is the risk of breast cancer for Asian American/Pacific Islander Women?

Among Asian American or Pacific Islander women, breast cancer incidence (78.1 per 100,000) and mortality rates (11.0 per 100,000) are lower than Caucasian and African American women.

Breast cancer is the leading cancer among Chinese (55 per 100,000), Filipino (73.1 per 100,000), Hawaiian (105.6 per 100,000), Japanese (82.3 per 100,000) and Korean (28.5 per 100,000) women. Incidence and mortality rates vary from group to group.

The most frequent cause of cancer death among Filipina women (11.9 per 100,000) is breast cancer. However, aggregate data may mask the fact that for particular subgroups, such as immigrants, native Hawaiians, the economically disadvantaged and the elderly, breast cancer incidence and mortality risk may be higher.

Only 48.5 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander women 50 years and older in the U.S. have had a mammogram or clinical breast examination within the last two years—the lowest rate of screening among all racial/ethnic groups.

For Asian Americans who immigrated to the United States at least a decade ago, the risk of breast cancer is 80 percent higher than that of new immigrants. For those born in the U.S., the breast cancer risk is similar to that of Caucasian women.

The Hispanic population is the fastest-growing population and the largest minority group in the United States. Hispanic Americans make up approximately 12.5 percent of the U.S. population, and that number will increase to somewhere between 19 and 24 percent by 2050, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Cancer research in Hispanic/Latina populations has been hindered by a number of factors and thus may not be entirely correct. Also, data from national cancer registries may not be accurate for Hispanic American/Latina women because, until recently, cancer registries have not collected data specifically on this population.

What is the risk of breast cancer for Hispanic American/Latina women?

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic American/Latina women. Although breast cancer is diagnosed about 30 percent less often among women of Hispanic origin, it is more often diagnosed at a later stage (when the disease is more advanced) than when found in non-Hispanic women. This is true even when access to health care is adequate. Hispanic/Latina females also have the highest rates of cervical cancer of any ethnic group, including whites. Both of these distressing statistics are related to Hispanic/Latina women not getting adequate screening with mammograms, clinical breast exams and Pap smears.

What special challenges do Hispanic/Latina women face?

Lack of access to health care is a major barrier to early detection and treatment of breast cancer and one that many Hispanic women face. More often than any other group, Hispanic Americans/Latinos have no regular source of health care.

A high proportion of Hispanic women are uninsured (about 30 percent). Uninsured Hispanic women with breast cancer are more than twice as likely as other women to be diagnosed with breast cancer in advanced stages. The disease is more difficult to treat successfully when it is diagnosed in its advanced stages, and survival rates are lower.

Hispanic/Latina women also face other barriers to health care, including difficulties with language, transportation, child care, immigration status and cultural differences.

What can Hispanic American/Latina women do?

Many health departments and large hospitals now have Spanish translators to help healthcare providers communicate with Spanish-speakers. If you need one, ask.

If you are age 40 or above, get regular mammograms and breast exams (talk to your health care provider about how often). Spread the word to women you know to do the same.

Be an advocate for your health care. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, become informed about your diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up care. Participate in making decisions about your care. Communicate as much and as openly as possible with your health care providers. If you are not comfortable talking openly with a provider, look for another provider that you can trust.

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 about 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the United States. Breast cancer is about 100 times less common among men than among women. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1/10th of 1% (1 in 1,000). The number of breast cancer cases in men relative to the population has been fairly stable over the last 30 years. In 2009, about 440 men will die from breast cancer in the United States.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men include: nipple discharge (usually bloody), nipple inversion, breast lump, and occasionally, local pain, itching and pulling sensation.

The survival rate of men and women is comparable by stage of disease at the time of diagnosis. However, men are usually diagnosed at a later stage because they are less likely to report any symptoms.

Treatment of male breast cancer is the same as treatment for female patients and usually includes a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy.