Why Fear Delays Breast Cancer Screenings for Black Women
A Word In Black survey finds many Black women delay breast cancer screening and mammograms due to fear, cost, and gaps in provider communication.
For more than two decades, cancer death rates in the U.S. have declined steadily among women, due in part to increased awareness and early detection. But for Black women â who still die from the disease at far higher rates than white women â that progress remains out of reach.
Thatâs because one of the most powerful barriers to surviving breast cancer isnât ignorance or access to care. Itâs fear.
Thatâs the main finding of a new survey from Word In Blackâs Insights & Research Division that delves into Black womenâs thoughts and attitudes about breast cancer. It found that around 6 in 10 respondents avoid routine breast cancer screening because they are worried about what the results might reveal â even though roughly two-thirds of respondents either had been diagnosed with breast cancer themselves or knew someone close to them who had been diagnosed.
The findings underpin the report, âUnderstanding Breast Cancer Risks, Concerns, and Barriers to Screening in Black Women,â by Dr. Christa Mahlobo, director of the division. The analysis identifies fear as the primary obstacle to early detection. But it also found that Black women confront persistent, systemic barriers to breast cancer screening, detection, and treatment. That includes costs, distrust of the health care system, and providers who donât raise the topic.
The surveyâs result, Mahlobo says, âsuggests there are many women who may not even want to have the conversation â who may not want to go to the doctor, not want to ask questions, not even want to know what the symptoms are.â
#BreastCancerAwareness #HealthEquity #BlackWomenHealth
