Who is at Risk for Breast Cancer…and Why?

Ever wonder why experts say some women are at greater risk for developing breast cancer? Some risk factors, such as a family history, seem to make sense, but others are less clear. For instance, in the United States while white women are more likely than other ethnicities to be diagnosed with breast cancer, African-American women are 40 percent more likely to die from it.

Diagnosis disparity

When statistics show a group of people is suffering more than another from cancer diagnosis or death, a disparity exists. Experts are actively researching causes of these disparities to help form solutions.

Studies show that due to healthcare access and socioeconomic factors, fewer African-American women get mammograms than white women. And after mammography, it takes longer for them to get a cancer diagnosis than white women. A delayed diagnosis can mean cancer is harder to treat and more deadly. This is critical, because studies also show that African-American women are more likely to have harder-to-treat tumors with fewer options for treatment, such as the triple-negative subtype of breast cancer tumor.

Protect your health

Do your part by:

• Getting mammograms regularly. If you can’t afford it or don’t have health insurance, you may qualify for free or low-cost mammograms through the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Every state has a participating location. Find yours by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/.
• Scheduling follow-up tests immediately if your mammogram results aren’t normal.
• Knowing your family history. If a sibling, parent or child has had breast cancer, talk with your doctor about your increased risk.

Has it been a while since your last primary care appointment, or do you need a new physician? Call us at 317.565.0565 to request an appointment.

Source: Cancer.gov