Daily HealthBeat Tip - May 17, 2007

Breast cancer, high risk, and black women

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Breast cancer can run in families, and a study examines risk in black families.

The study looked at women with a mother or sister who was diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50.

The research by Julie Palmer of Boston University was supported by the National Institutes of Health. She presented her findings at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

``Women with a family history of breast cancer had 1.8 times the risk of developing breast cancer, compared to women without a family history.’’ (8 seconds)

That’s important because Palmer says black women tend to get more aggressive forms of breast cancer, and at a younger age. She says black women under age 40 should check for breast cancer, especially if they have a family history.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: May, 17 2007