OCTOBER IS
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH |
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In the United States, breast cancer is the most common non-skin
cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in
women
1. The National Cancer
Institute estimates that, based on current rates, 13.2% of women
born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in
their lives
2. Each year, a small number
of men are also diagnosed with or die from breast cancer
1. |
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EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT HEALTH DISPARITIES |
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Racial and Ethnic |
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In 2001, the breast cancer incidence rate was 1.3 times higher for
non-Hispanic whites (148.3 per 100,000) than for African Americans
(111.9 per 100,000)
3. However, In 2002 the breast
cancer death rate was 1.3 times higher for African Americans (34.0
per 100,000) than for Non-Hispanic whites (25.6 per 100,000)
4. |
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Table 1: Breast
cancer incidence and death rates by race |
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Incidence rate
per 100,000 population, 2001 |
Death rates
per 100,000
population, 2002 |
Whites |
139.0 |
25.0 |
African Americans |
111.9 |
34.0 |
American Indians / Alaska
Natives |
49.5 |
13.8 |
Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders |
97.8 |
12.8 |
Hispanic/Latinos |
85.4 |
15.5 |
Non-Hispanic Whites |
148.3 |
25.6 |
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Source:
NCHS, Health, United States, 2004, tables 29 and 53. |
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From 1992-2000, the breast cancer 5-year survival rate was 1.2 times
higher among white women (88.3%) as among African American women
(74.1%)
5. |
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According to the American Cancer Society, in 2000 non-Hispanic white
women ages 40 and over were 1.1 times more likely to report
receiving a mammogram in the prior two years (72.1%) compared to
non-Hispanic African Americans (68.2%), 1.2 times more likely than
Hispanic/Latinas (62.6%), 1.4 times more likely than American
Indians and Alaska Natives (52.4%), and 1.3 times more likely than
Asian Americans (57.0%)
6. |
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Immigration |
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Women who were born in the U.S. were 1.7 times more likely to have a
mammogram in the prior two years compared with those who lived in
the U.S. for less than 10 years (71.6% vs. 41.4%)
6. |
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Disability |
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In 1994, 53.3% of women 40 through 49 years of age with at least one
functional limitation and 60.6% of women without any limitation had
received mammography screening during the prior two years
7. |
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The gap between women with and without functional limitations was
widest among women in that age group, but the trend persisted across
all examined age categories (40 years of age or younger, 40 through
49, 50 through 64, and 65 years of age or over), suggesting a need
for screening interventions for women with disabilities aged 40
years of age or older. Women younger than 40 years of age should
discuss screening with their provider
7. |
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Income and Education |
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During 1997-1999, U.S. breast cancer
mortality was 41% higher for Hispanic/Latina women in high poverty
areas* (19.0%) than those in low poverty areas (13.5%)**
8. |
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During 1975-1999, SEER female breast
cancer incidence rates were higher in lower poverty areas*, with
incidence rates increasing more rapidly in lower poverty groups than
in higher poverty groups
8. |
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The percent of women who reported
receiving a mammogram in the last year rose with education level
among American women. Compared to those with 16 or more years of
education (80.1%), only 56.8% of those with 11 or fewer years of
education had the screening test
6. |
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Women with health insurance were 1.9 times
more likely to have a mammogram in the last 2 years compared to
those without health insurance (73.6% vs. 39.5%)
6. |
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In 2003, breast cancer prevalence was
somewhat higher among those with family income of less than $20,000
per year (1.3%) and $35,000-54,999 per year (7.3%) compared to other
income brackets ($20K-$34,999: 1.1%; $55K+: 1.0%)
10. |
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Age |
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In 2002, women ages 55-64 were 1.8 times
more likely to die from breast cancer (56.2 per 100,000) as women
ages 45-54 (31.4 per 100,000), and those ages 75-84 were 4.0 times
more likely to die from breast cancer (125.9 per 100,000) as those
ages 45-54
9. |
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In 2003, the percent of Americans ages
65-74 diagnosed with breast cancer (4.1) was 3.2 times higher than
those ages 45-64 years (1.3)
10. |
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PROMISING INTERVENTION STRATEGIES |
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Racial and ethnic minorities tend to receive lower-quality health
care than whites even when insurance status, income, age and
severity of conditions are comparable. Many of the differences in
cancer incidence and mortality rates among racial and ethnic groups
may be due to factors associated with social class rather than
ethnicity. Socioeconomic status, in particular, appears to play a
major role in differences in cancer incidence and mortality rates,
risk factors and screening prevalence among racial and ethnic
minorities
11. |
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Minority groups’ access to cancer care and
clinical trials has been expanded to ensure that people in these
communities are provided the same quality, access, and
state-of-the-art technology that patients in major care centers
receive
12. |
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PROGRAMS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
WHAT CDC IS DOING: |
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The
National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program integrates and
coordinates efforts to reduce cancer’s effects by monitoring cancer
cases, developing policies to promote cancer prevention and control,
developing cancer education programs, establishing intervention
programs that target populations at high risk, supporting screening
and education services, and evaluating programs
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CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
NBCCEDP provides breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnosis,
and treatment to low income, medically underserved, and un-insured
women (emphasizing recruitment of minority women) through states,
tribes and territories
14.
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CDC National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR)
NPCR provides funding and technical assistance to states,
territories, and the District of Columbia
for enhancing established cancer registries or developing and
implementing new cancer registries. NPCR is essential to state
cancer planning and the identification of populations that
experience cancer health disparities
14. |
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The Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer
This project has been funded by the CDC for five years. The Mautner
Project provides direct services to lesbians with cancer, their
partners, and caregivers. This project aids in educating and
informing both the lesbian community as well as the health care
community of the special concerns in cancer. The Mautner Project
also provides advocates for lesbian health issues in national and
local arenas
14. |
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REACH 2010 is a federal initiative which includes the goal of
eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health by the year
2010. This goal is one of two goals that parallels the focus of
Healthy People 2010, which describes the nation's health
objectives for the decade. REACH 2010 is part of the national
initiative to eliminate disparities in health status experienced by
racial and ethnic minority populations in six priority areas,
including breast cancer
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FOR MORE
INFORMATION |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) |
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National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
(NCCDPHP) |
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Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) |
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Health Disparities: Minority Cancer Awareness |
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National Cancer Data |
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National Breast and
Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) |
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