The incidence of breast cancer among African American women is lower than that for Caucasians and higher than Hispanics. However, more African American women die from breast cancer than either Caucasians or Hispanics.
Each year, 95 of every 100,000 African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact , the disease is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among African American women. The reason could be that more African American women go undiagnosed until the breast cancer has spread to other parts of their bodies. Mammography rates for African American women are lower than for Caucasian and Hispanic women but are increasing.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic American women and the leading cause of cancer death among them. Breast cancer is diagnosed about 30 percent less often among women of Hispanic origin. However, it is more often diagnosed at a later stage when the disease is more advanced. Hispanic American women also get fewer screening tests like mammograms compared to other women which means their cancer goes undetected for longer.
Prevention and early detection of breast cancer are key to survivorship.