Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Higher for Minority Women
Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Higher for Minority Women
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Launches Grassroots Advocacy Campaign to Mark National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
DALLAS - April 6, 2005 - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is marking National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, April 17-23, with the launch of a grassroots advocacy campaign aimed at highlighting outcome disparities for minority women diagnosed with breast cancer and emphasizing the need for access to quality breast cancer care for all patient populations.
During this campaign, the Komen Foundation is calling on Congress to increase funding for programs designed to address the needs of Americans who are disproportionately impacted by cancer. In addition, citizens are encouraged to visit www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org and join other Komen Foundation advocates in the fight to end breast cancer disparities.
"Breast cancer is colorblind, yet mortality rates for minority women are higher than for Caucasian women," said Diane L. Balma, the Komen Foundation's director of public policy and a breast cancer survivor. "All women - regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status - deserve a fighting chance to survive this terrible disease. That is why we are asking citizens to use our Web site to write Congress in support of programs aimed at ending breast cancer disparities."
Programs to promote minority health
Two programs the Komen Foundation will draw attention to are the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which provides screening and outreach to women with little or no health insurance, and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD), which promotes minority health and coordinates the effort of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, health disparities.
"We want to draw public attention, and the attention of our nation's decision-makers, to the troublesome issues minority populations face when dealing with breast cancer," said Balma.
Breast cancer statistics
The statistics are staggering. In the United States, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, and every 13 minutes a life is lost. While the overall breast cancer mortality rate has steadily declined over the past decade, the mortality rate for minority women has not declined at the same pace. Studies have shown that barriers to access to quality care are largely responsible for these disparities. Some key facts:
Despite a lower incidence rate, African American women have a 32 percent higher death rate from breast cancer then Caucasian women.
Among women of Hispanic origin, breast cancer is more frequently diagnosed at a later stage, when fewer treatment options are available.
Only 48.5 percent of Asian and Pacific Islander women 50 years and older in the U.S. have had a mammogram or clinical breast exam within the last two years, the lowest rate of screening among all racial/ethnic groups.
In a recent study, when Caucasian, African American and Hispanic women were provided equal access to high-quality mammography screening, all groups had similar rates of breast cancer survival.
The Komen Foundation
Guided by advisory councils, including the African American National Advisory Council, National Hispanic/Latina Advisory Council and Asian American and Pacific Islander National Advisory Council, the Komen Foundation is recognized as a leader in funding breast health initiatives for minorities and other targeted population groups, with an emphasis on funding programs identified through community needs assessments conducted by its nationwide network of over 100 Affiliates. Additionally, the Komen Foundation's Award and Research Grant Program has funded millions of dollars for research initiatives focusing on the breast health needs of ethnic and racial minority populations as well as scientific studies such as differences in tumor biology that seems to be connected to race and ethnicity.
Members of the public can join the campaign by visiting America's town hall on breast cancer at www.ActNowEndBreastCancer.org. The Web site is a virtual advocacy forum offering every American an opportunity to educate policymakers on breast cancer issues.
Komen Champions for the CureTM
Komen Champions for the CureTM is a program designed to increase public investment in breast health and breast cancer care by educating Congress, the administration and other policy-makers on issues important to women and families facing breast cancer. The Komen Foundation's ActNowEndBreastCancer.org Web site enables concerned Americans to join the fight against breast cancer.
