Study Reveals Higher Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in Black Women Across All Subtypes

Black and white women have similar breast cancer diagnosis rates. However, Black women are approximately 40% more likely to die from the disease. A new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology confirms this pattern across all breast cancer types. Factors behind this disparity include socioeconomic inequality, delays in diagnosis, and systemic racism.

Jasmine Miller-Kleinhenz, PhD, notes that health disparities are influenced by social and structural factors, not just biology. The study examined 34,262 Black patients and 182,466 White patients with stage I to IV breast cancer. It found that Black women have a 50% higher risk of death from hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative tumors and a 34% higher risk from hormone receptor-positive/HER2-positive tumors. Even for hormone receptor-negative tumors, Black women had mortality rates that were 20% and 17% higher for HER2-positive and HER2-negative tumors, respectively.

Despite knowing that aggressive breast cancer types are more common in Black women, the study shows these tumors cannot fully explain the mortality differences. Erica Warner, ScD, emphasizes that even with the same tumor subtype, Black women still face higher mortality rates.

Barriers to care, including socioeconomic issues and health insurance inequities, contribute to these disparities. Black women may have less access to quality healthcare and preventative screenings. Additionally, they are more likely to develop aggressive triple-negative breast cancer and other health conditions that elevate breast cancer risk.

To narrow the mortality gap, experts call for improved access to high-quality care and equitable treatment options for all women. Historical data show that Black women attain mammography rates comparable to White women; thus, timely care after abnormal findings is essential. Healthcare systems should monitor breast cancer patient treatment access and outcomes to identify disparities.

Further research is crucial. Studies should focus on the social, structural, and environmental factors affecting health in these communities. In the healthcare field, practitioners must raise awareness about disparities and push for equitable access to necessary treatments.