Throughout the month of October, many of us have taken time to recognize breast cancer awareness efforts. Some of us have even been working to raise awareness ourselves. During this period of reflection and activism, we have been forced to face the harsh reality that there is a group of women who are having to fight even harder than others against this deadly disease: Black women.
Every patient that I see who is at the age of 40, we start to shift our discussion towards the mammogram and breast cancer screening. It’s not always the easiest conversation to have, but it is important nonetheless. When I ask my patients what they know about breast cancer, they often mention the pink ribbon and Susan B. Koman awareness efforts.
However, their understanding outside of those particular breast cancer awareness efforts is scanty most times. The truth is that 1 in 9 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lives, and Black women have incidences of breast cancer that are more advanced and have lower survival rates than their White counterparts. Being diagnosed at a later stage is one of the causes of these high mortality rates in the Black community.
Research proves that breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. And in women between the ages of 45-55, it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The good news is that there has been a dramatic decrease in cancer incidence and mortality rates over the past few years.
However, a racial, and ethnic disparity remains. Historically, the risk for African-American women developing breast cancer has been lower than rates among Caucasian women; however, new research has revealed that the gap in breast cancer diagnosis rates between Black and White women has closed in recent years . Sadly, the risk of Black women dying from the disease is still significantly greater.
The disparity is as great as a 44 percent higher mortality rate for Black women succumbing to breast cancer than White women, which is staggering. Our Black women are succumbing to this disease, and we have to find out how to stop these differences in socioeconomic status, healthcare access, and lifestyle factors from detrimentally affecting them.
The breast cancer tumors that affect African-American women are also more aggressive than those affecting Whites and, therefore, harder to cure. This fact breeds anxiety in the community and can sometimes discourage women from establishing strong relationships with their doctors or healthcare providers.
We are in need of a healthcare revolution that can transform the outcomes of breast cancer diagnoses in women, and especially, Black women since we experience higher rates of breast cancer before age 40 and, are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age.
Barriers that prevent women from receiving timely, high-quality cancer prevention screening, and ongoing treatment are quite evident, and they contribute to the disparaging rates of mortality in breast cancer patients. Sadly, even women who receive mammograms may sometimes have limited access to follow-up care after receiving abnormal results, which may also contribute to the gap in survival rates between Black and White women.
Educating the Black community on the importance of seeing their doctors on a regular basis helps to foster trust between patients and their providers. As healthcare professionals, we are challenged daily to provide the best care possible while assisting those who are racially discriminated against, have experienced lower quality healthcare and have poor provider-patient relationships with their doctors.
It is our job to give our attention, and help under served minority women through their health and medical challenges. We are to create avenues that will allow us to serve as first-line advocates in ensuring equality of care. Encouraging my patients not to live in fear is also an important part of our care, while also helping to prevent delays in follow-up that frequently play a role in the lower survival rates among Black women.
We need the power of politicians, insurance companies, and healthcare professionals to fight for advocacy, research, education, and healthcare services. These entities should support the involvement of local communities in developing programs to assist women in mammogram screening efforts, while placing importance on annual visits.
As an OB/GYN, I have focused my efforts on cultural and socioeconomic factors that have an impact on my patients and their ability to access healthcare, and to understand the rates of those affected by breast cancer in this country. For me, finding those who have experienced breast cancer in their families or have experienced the disease themselves has been key in reaching other women.
Foundations such as African American Breast Cancer Alliance and Sisters Network Incorporated, that focus on this disparity, are also exceptionally helpful.
MADAME NOIRE
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