Photograph by Klaus Nielsen/Pexels

Earlier detection and therapy improvements have helped lower deaths, but the decline is not the same across demographics

Photograph by Klaus Nielsen/Pexels

Breast cancer deaths have been declining since 1990. Earlier detection through mammograms and therapy improvements have helped move the trends in this direction. But the decline is not happening at the same rate across demographics.

2019 report from the American Cancer Society found that the mortality rate between Black and white women is expanding. While Black women are 3% less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, they have a 41% higher death rate from the illness.

Black women are often diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age than white women, and they have a “three-fold increased risk” of triple-negative breast cancer, one of the least treatable subtypes. Despite these factors, Black women continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials.

Source: Susan G. Komen


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