Minority Women's Health

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Breast Cancer

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Breast Cancer

Women get breast cancer when cells in the breast don't grow right and a tumor forms. Getting a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) can help find the cancer early. This gives a woman more treatment options and makes it more likely she will survive the cancer.

African American women are more likely than all other women to die from breast cancer. Tumors are found at a later, more advanced, stage so there are fewer treatment options. Some reasons for this may include not being able to get health care or not following-up after getting abnormal test results. Other reasons may include distrust of the health care system, the belief that mammograms are not needed, or not having insurance.

We do not know how to prevent breast cancer. But there are things you can do to reduce your risk, such as keeping a healthy weight and limiting how much alcohol you drink.

There are things you can do to find breast cancer early:

• Get a mammogram. It is the best way to find out if you have breast cancer. A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It can find breast cancer that is too small for you or your doctor to feel. All women starting at age 40 should get a mammogram every one to two years. Talk to your doctor about how often you need a mammogram. If your mother or sister had breast cancer, you may need to start getting mammograms earlier.

• A breast self-exam and a clinical breast exam are not substitutes for mammograms.

  Get a clinical breast exam. This is a breast exam done by your doctor or nurse. She or he will check your breasts and underarms for any lumps, nipple discharge, or other changes. The breast exam should be part of a routine check up.
• Get to know your breasts. You may do monthly breast self-exams to check for any changes in your breasts. If you find a change, see your doctor right away.

Publications

1.     Breast Cancer: A Resource Guide for Minority Women — This publication lists organizations, documents, journal articles, and other resources relevant to people affected by breast cancer. This may include patients, health professionals, students, and researchers.

   http://www.omhrc.gov/assets/pdf/checked/bcrg2005.pdf

2.   Screening Mammograms: Questions and Answers — This fact sheet explains how screening mammograms differ from diagnostic mammograms. It also explains the benefits and limitations of screening mammography, as well as the National Cancer Institute’s recommendations for when a woman should begin and how frequently she should continue having screening mammograms.

   http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/screening-mammograms

3.   Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for Women — This booklet explains how doctors distinguish breast lumps and other normal breast changes that often occur. These changes may often be confused with breast cancer. It encourages women to get regular screening mammograms and clinical breast exams.

   http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understanding-breast-changes/allpages

4.   What You Need To Know About Breast Cancer — This booklet provides valuable information about breast cancer, including causes, screening, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Additionally, this booklet offers women with breast cancer information on how to cope with the disease.

   http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/breast

5. African Americans and Breast Cancer (Copyright © AACHAC) — This fact sheet features a brief overview of breast cancer, including the risk factors, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis and treatment. It also offers links to other organizations that can provide information.

   http://www.aachac.org/healthfactsheets/breast_cancer.html

6.   Breast Cancer Racial and Ethnic Differences (Copyright © Susan G. Komen Foundation) — Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the United States. It is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among nearly every racial and ethnic group, including African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, and Hispanic/Latina women. The rates of developing and dying from the disease differ among ethnic groups, and this publication discusses these differences.

   http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/806-373a.pdf

7.   Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2007-2008 (Copyright © ACS) — This publication presents the most recent statistics on the rate of cancer diagnosis, survival, and deaths in African Americans and blacks. It also includes sections on cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, physical activity, and the use of cancer screening examinations.

   http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2007AAacspdf2007.pdf

8.   Caregivers of Women Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer (Copyright © Cancercare) — This booklet is a guide to helping your loved one with metastatic breast cancer while still taking care of yourself. It also discusses how you and other caregivers can get the support you need.

   http://www.cancercare.org/pdf/booklets/ccc_met_bc_caregivers.pdf

9. Facts and Statistics About Breast Cancer in the United States: Year 2008 (Copyright © NBCC) — This fact sheet discusses breast cancer rates in the United States and how they have changed in the last few decades.

   http://www.stopbreastcancer.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=493&Itemid=178...

10. Racial & Ethnic Issues in Screening (Copyright © Susan G. Komen Foundation) — Even with access to care and regular screening, African American women still have shorter survival times and more advanced tumors when diagnosed. Although African American women have lower rates of breast cancer than white women, they are more likely to die from it. This article addresses biological differences that may contribute to this gap in survival rates.

    http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/RacialEthnicIssuesinScreening.html

11.   You Are A Survivor: Living After Cancer Treatment (Copyright © Lance Armstrong Foundation) — This is a brochure written specifically for African American cancer survivors. It raises awareness of the physical, practical, and emotional concerns of cancer survivors, lists resources, and encourages survivors to seek support.

    http://www.livestrong.org/atf/cf/%7BFB6FFD43-0E4C-4414-8B37-0D001EFBDC49%7D/brochure_aa.pdf...

Organizations

1.   National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, NCCDPHP, CDC
2.   National Cancer Institute, NIH, HHS
3.   Office of Minority Health, OPHS, OS, HHS
4. American Cancer Society
5. Cancer.net
6. Celebrating Life Foundation
7. Sisters Network® Inc.
8. Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007