The Facts About Breast Cancer and African Americans

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in African- American women (118.3 per 100,000) and the second leading cause of death among black women, exceeded only by lung cancer. African-American women have a higher breast cancer death rate (33.8 per 100,000) than women of any other racial or ethnic group.

Although the incidence of breast cancer is lower among African-American women, mortality rates are approximately 37% higher than white women. African-American women’s survival rate for breast cancer has increased in recent decades. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer among African-American women is 77% compared with 90% among white women.

Some of the reasons for these differences include possible differences in specific risk factors, differences in the biology of the breast cancer, or differences in breast cancer screening rates and treatment. Participation in annual mammography screening and treatment of the disease at its earliest stage offers the best opportunity for decreasing mortality and improving survival.

Source: Komen for the Cure Foundation at www.komen.org