"Black women and white women get breast cancer at about the same rate, but black women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than white women."
-- CDC, 2016
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| (2017) |
African American women are susceptible to aggressive forms of breast cancer including triple negative breast cancer. Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer that often comes back after treatment. Additionally, this demographic has a higher risk of early onset breast cancer. Despite these differences, we approach their preventative care the same as white women, and in doing so, we are failing African American women as a whole.
According to the CDC, breast cancer death rates are 40% higher among black women in comparison to white women. Between 1999 and 2013, black women had lower rates of cancer diagnosis, but had higher rates of dying from breast cancer than white women. The introduction of regular mammogram screenings have since lowered the rates of incidence and deaths among white women, however black women continue to suffer.
It is recommended that women ages 45-54 should get regular mammogram screenings every year. Once a woman reaches 55 and older, they are recommended to get a mammogram every 2 years. Almost every woman has heard it before, typically through their primary care doctors or older family members who are currently receiving the yearly service. However, since African American women are known to be susceptible to early onset, why does this information not influence the general healthcare recommendation for breast cancer preventative care? Once again, our health system's regulations are created in reference to the white body, and completely ignores the African American demographic. African American women should receive mammograms at a younger age then what is recommended for the general public, and yet there is never communicated.
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| Incidence Rates, 2015 |
Aside from healthcare recommendations not taking into account the increased risk of black women's early onset breast cancer, there is also differences in the quality of mammograms African American women receive in comparison to white women. As a whole, African American women typically receive lower quality mammograms when compared to white women. Additionally, there is also a decrease in follow up appointments and care when African American women receive abnormal mammogram results. As a direct result, African American women tend to have delays in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. As we all know, early detection and treatment plays a vital role in survival rates of breast cancer-- so I must question why do we not put a larger emphasis on quality, preventative care for African American women? I believe this is another instance in which the medical care system values African American women's health less than white women, carrying forward an ideology of oppressing a minority.
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| Mortality Rates, 2015 |
Moreover, black women from lower socioeconomic statuses have little to no access to affordable healthcare. In turn, African American women's biggest barrier to care is lack of health insurance coverage. Insurance provides access to standard treatments and high quality cancer care, including preventive care and early detection services. Without it, women are left to fend for themselves, and face astronomical, unaffordable health care prices. I believe that if quality, affordable healthcare was available to everyone equally (regardless of their gender, socioeconomic status, or race) breast cancer death rates among black women would decrease.
So why don't these women without insurance seek care at non-profit health clinics?
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| (2015) |
Nongovernment organizations such as Planned Parenthood often carry the misconception that they offer mammogram services. However, while Planned Parenthood offers breast examines and other vital women's health services, they are not able to offer affordable mammogram services. At times, Planned Parenthood brings a Mobile Mammogram van, which has the ability to reach women belonging to a range of identities and socioeconomic statuses while offering them affordable//free services. While this is a great way to reach women who may not be able to afford regular screenings, not have the ability to find transportation, or unable to take off work for a doctor's appointment, a more stable solution is to offer access to quality, affordable care across the board.
As shown, it is clear African American women are vulnerable to breast cancer, and represent an at risk demographic. However, the health care field has lacked the initiative to address these gaps in care in regards to gender and race. As seen in Audrey Lorde's The Cancer Journals, black women lack representation in breast cancer discourse and treatment rhetoric. Demonstrated through her health narrative, she remembers being offered a prothesis breast from a woman at a popular non-profit organization, Reach for Recovery, after she had a breast mastectomy. The woman offered her a light nude colored prothesis that was not even the same color as Audre's skin, reiterating the theme of a lack of representation of African American women among breast cancer discourse.
All in all, black women should not be dying 40% more than white women due to the same disease. Instead, there needs to be more systematic changes that ensure quality, affordable health care to all people. There needs to be more education offered to African American women specifically tailored to the risks they face as a demographic. In addition, to acknowledging these gaps in healthcare, we need to act to improve these conditions.
If African American women are among those at most risk to die from breast cancer, why are there not specific efforts being made to address the health care gaps killing this demographic?
Reading from Class:
Lorde, Audre. The Cancer Journals. Aunt Lute Books, 2006.
Additional Sources:
“Cancer Prevention and Control.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/research/articles/breast_cancer_rates_women.htm.
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