According to the organization, Susan G. Komen For the Cure,
breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the United
States. Breast cancer is caused by hormonal imbalances within the body.
Incidence rates are higher among Caucasian
women
The American Cancer Society states that breast cancer
incidence rates are higher among Caucasian women than African American
women. From 2005-2009, the National
Cancer Institute reported about 127,300 white women were diagnosed with breast
cancer and 121,200 black women were diagnosed.
However, African Americans tend to have a higher incidence rate before
forty years of age.
Mortality rates are higher
among African American women
Although Caucasian women reported a higher number of incidences
of breast cancer, African American women died more from breast cancer. Of the incidence rates stated previously by
the National Cancer Institute, 22,400 Caucasian women died from breast cancer
and 31,600 African Americans died.
The lack of screening and
diagnosis of breast cancer early causes more deaths.
It doesn’t seem to add up why more white women have
the disease but more black women die from it.
A lot of research has been conducted in attempts to try and understand
this phenomenon. According to Susan G.
Komen For the Cure, this may be due to
differences in specific risk factors, the biology of the breast cancer, but
most importantly the breast cancer screening rates and treatment. There are a number of variables that can lead
to African American women to not get screened as often if they do at all. One variable could be the cost of getting
screened especially if one doesn’t have health insurance. Another variable could just be simply the
lack of awareness about the disease and/or screening tests. Some women also do not have access to
screening facilities.
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