A new report from the American Cancer Society finds that breast cancer rates among African-American women in the United States are increasing. For decades, African-American women had been getting breast cancer at a slower rate than white women, but that gap is now closing¹.

Race and Ethnic Factors

From 2008 to 2012, breast cancer incidence rates increased 0.4% per year in black women and 1.5% per year among Asian/Pacific Islanders while they remained stable among whites, Hispanics, and American Indian/Alaska Natives. By 2012, the rate at which black women were diagnosed with breast cancer caught up to the rate at which white women were diagnosed. However, differences exist among states. Incidence rates were higher in blacks than whites in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Even though black women have historically had lower incidence rates than white women, death rates among black women have historically been higher, and that has continued. In fact, the black-white disparity in breast cancer death rates has increased over time; by 2012, mortality rates were 42% higher in black women than white women. The authors of the report say that trend is expected to continue.

Black women are more likely than other racial/ethnic groups to be diagnosed at later stages and have the lowest survival at each stage of diagnosis. They are also more likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer², an aggressive subtype that is linked to poorer survival. These cancers tend to occur more often in younger women and in women who are African-American or Hispanic/Latina.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides additional information about the risks facing women in general. Jay Harold firmly believes everyone should be aware of these risks.

Breast Cancer Risks

Studies have shown that your risk of breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years and older.

Some women will get breast cancer even without any other risk factors that they know of. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most women have some risk factors, but most women do not get breast cancer. If you have breast cancer risk factors, talk with your doctor about ways you can lower your risk and about screening for breast cancer.

Risk factors³ include—

1. Getting older. The risk of breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
2. Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
3. Early menstrual period. Women who start their periods before age 12 are exposed to hormones longer, raising the risk for breast cancer by a small amount.
4. Late or no pregnancy. Having the first pregnancy after age 30 and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.
5. Starting menopause after age 55. Like starting one’s period early, being exposed to estrogen hormones for a longer time later in life also raises the risk of breast cancer.
6. Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
7. Being overweight or obese after menopause. Older women who are overweight or obese have an increased risk of getting breast cancer than those at a normal weight.
8. Having dense breasts. Dense breasts⁴ have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumors on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
9. Using combination hormone therapy. Taking hormones to replace missing estrogen and progesterone in menopause for more than five years raises the risk for breast cancer. The
   

   Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.

   hormones that have been shown to increase risk are estrogen and progestin when taken together.

10. Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Certain forms of oral contraceptive pills have been found to raise breast cancer risk.
11. Personal history of breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time.
12. Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases. Some non-cancerous breast diseases such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
13. Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who has had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman’s risk.
14. Previous treatment using radiation therapy. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts (like for treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.
15. Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was given to some pregnant women in the United States between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage, have a higher risk. Women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them are also at risk.
16. Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk of breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

Research suggests that other factors such as smoking, being exposed to chemicals that can cause cancer, and night shift working also may increase breast cancer risk. Jay Harold has included a Breast Cancer Assessment Tool for your use⁵.

In the U.S., breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women⁶ after skin cancer. It can occur in both men and women, but it is very rare in men. Each year there are about 2,300 new cases of breast cancer in men and about 230,000 new cases in women. This is a very important health issue for the African-American community and constant vigilance is required.

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Bibliography

1. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/news/report-breast-cancer-rates-rising-among-african-american-women
2. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-classifying
3. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/risk_factors.htm
4. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-039989.pdf
5. http://www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/
6. http://www.cancer.gov/types/breast