Breast cancer is a terrifying reality for all women, but for Black women, the stakes are tragically higher. Despite advancements in cancer treatment and early detection, Black women continue to die from breast cancer than white women, late-stage diagnoses and aggressive forms of the disease.
Here’s why early screening isn’t just a recommendation; it’s a lifeline.
Higher Mortality Rates: The Deadly Disparity
Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer but far more likely to die from it. Why? Late-stage diagnoses are a critical factor. Systemic barriers like unequal access to healthcare, implicit bias in medical settings, and socioeconomic inequities often delay testing and treatment. By the time symptoms are addressed, the cancer may have advanced, reducing survival odds.
The stats don’t lie:
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for Black women.
- They face a 40% higher mortality rate than white women.
Advocate for annual mammograms starting at age 40 (or earlier if high-risk) and push for prompt follow-ups on abnormalities. Early screening can help detect cancer before it reaches an advanced stage, improving survival chances and treatment outcomes.
Hidden Genetic Risks: The BRCA Myth
For decades, genetic research focused overwhelmingly on women of European ancestry, perpetuating the myth that mutations like BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 were rare in Black women. New data shatters this assumption:
- Black women carry these mutations at the same rate as white women.
- Yet, they’re less likely to be referred for genetic testing, delaying life-saving preventive care.
Since genetic factors play a major role in breast cancer development, Black women must undergo early genetic testing and screenings to assess their personal risk and take preventative action where necessary.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, Mayo Clinic’s Breast Diagnostic Clinic, and Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center expert emphasizes, “For Black women, we need to start screening, and we should be screening them much younger, beginning age 40 and sometimes even younger, in their 30s,” says Dr. Sandhya Pruthi.
Aggressive Cancers: The Triple-Negative Threat
Black women are twice as likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype that lacks hormone receptors. TNBC grows faster, recurs more often, and is often diagnosed in women under 40. Unlike other types of breast cancer that may respond to hormone therapy or targeted drugs, TNBC is primarily treated with chemotherapy, which can be physically and emotionally taxing. Early detection of TNBC is critical, as it spreads faster and has a higher chance of recurrence. The earlier it is found, the more treatment options are available.
Why early screening matters:
“The U.S. Preventive Task Force recommendations of optional screening mammograms every two years starting at age 40 don’t go far enough for Black women, according to our findings,” says Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph, who treats patients at the Breast Cancer Center, part of NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center. “All women, and particularly Black women, who have a family history of breast cancer, can’t wait until 40. You need to start screening earlier.”
Dr. Joseph also advises black women to find out whether their grandmother, mother, or other family members experienced breast or ovarian cancer. Then, they should take a proactive step to inform their primary care physician. “Because family history is a red indicator, and you should request genetic testing,” Dr. Joseph, MD, added.
Every year, approximately 300,000 women receive a breast cancer diagnosis, with nearly 10 percent of those being younger than 45. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which provides recommendations for various health screenings, has recently updated its guidelines to recommend screening every two years starting at age 40.
However, earlier and more frequent screening may be necessary for many Black women, as well as any woman who has a family history of breast or ovarian cancer in a parent, sibling, or child.
Understanding these risks and taking proactive measures—like early screening—could mean the difference between life and death.
