October Spotlight: Breast Cancer Disparity Highlights
, by CRCHD staff
In October, CRCHD joins the rest of the nation in recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In the United States, women from diverse racial and ethnic groups continue to suffer from breast cancer disparities. African American and Hispanic/Latino women, in particular, experience a great burden from breast cancer (in incidence and mortality) compared to the general female population in the U.S.
For example:
- African American women diagnosed with breast cancer are less likely to survive five years after diagnosis (their survival rate is 71% compared to 81% survival rate of non-Hispanic White women).
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic and Latino women.
Here are some examples of CRCHD-funded research and projects that aim to reduce breast cancer disparities:
Grantee Spotlights:
- CRCHD grantee Dr. Veena Rao is unraveling the mysteries of the BRCA1 gene and its role in breast and ovarian cancer in diverse populations, particularly African American women.
- CRCHD grantee Dr. Isabel Scarinci describes herself as an advocate who is bringing equal breast and cervical cancer care to Latina immigrants living in Alabama.