Racial disparities, mortality rates, and breast cancer

Breast cancer is cancer that originates in the tissues of the breast. In the United States, it is the second-most common form of cancer among women. It is also the cancer with the second-highest mortality rate among women.

More than 300,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in U.S. women annually, according to the American Cancer Society. Each year, more than 40,000 die of the disease.

It’s important to remember that breast cancer is a different experience for everyone. Within these statistics and estimates, there exists a wide variety of diagnoses. Women are diagnosed with different types of breast cancer, at different stages, and at different ages. These factors—and many others—shape the experience of breast cancer.

A woman’s race and ethnicity also play a significant role in her experience with breast cancer.

Black women and breast cancer mortality rates

The incidence of breast cancer among Black women is slightly lower than that among white women. This means that the percentage of Black women who are diagnosed with breast cancer is slightly lower than the percentage of white women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.

But compared to all other racial and ethnic groups, Black women who develop breast cancer are more likely to die of the disease. This is true among Black women in all age groups.

Mortality rate is a statistic that measures how a specific cause of death affects a specific population during a specific length of time. The breast cancer mortality rate for Black women is about 40 percent greater than it is for white women.

Genetics and treatment access

There are multiple factors contributing to the higher mortality rate.

One is that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. This type of breast cancer is difficult to treat and associated with higher mortality rates.

Another factor is disparities in healthcare among Black women and white women. Race-related health disparities mean that Black women are less likely to have access to things that contribute to better outcomes after a breast cancer diagnosis. This includes the ability to access and afford treatment.

Black women have the second-highest rate of poverty among women in the U.S. (Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native women have the highest.) Poverty is strongly associated with higher cancer mortality rates.

More work is needed to fully understand the significantly higher mortality rate among Black women with breast cancer—and improve outcomes for these women.