Cancer is an issue worldwide that does not favor race, gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Although, particular cancer’s can effect some individuals more than others. For example, breast cancer. According to the Center of Disease Control & Preventions (2017), “Both women and men can get breast cancer, though it is much more common in women.” In the United States, breast cancer is the second leading cancer among women of any race. It is the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanics and the second among white, Asian, black and Pacific Islander women (Center of Disease Control & Prevention, 2016). According to the American Cancer Society (2016), “ In 2015, 231,840 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and of those women …show more content…
In women, cancer can also develop in the glands that produce milk” (see Appendix A). Most breast cancer is unnoticeable in the early stages because it does not cause the person pain. “As the cancer progresses, signs and symptoms can include a lump or thickening in or near the breast; a change in the size or shape of the breast; nipple discharge, tenderness, or retraction (turning inward); and skin irritation or dimpling” (the U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015). “Sometimes breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone, even before the original tumor in the breast tissue is large enough to be felt ” (American Cancer Society, 2015). If the cancer is untreated it often spreads to other areas of the body and becomes more aggressive. Preventative measures for breast cancer include mammograms, self-examination, diet, exercise and avoiding exposure to cancer causing chemicals. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast to detect any abnormal masses in the tissue (See appendix B). A self-examination or clinical breast exam is the use of hands to feel for lumps, pain or changes in size (Center of Disease Control & Prevention, 2016). According to the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (2016), women ages 50 to 74 are recommended to undergo mammography screenings twice a year. Women under the age of 50 are recommended to self examine their breast and undergo
This will explore the role gender, ethnicity, race and socio-economics play in the acquisition, maintenance and experience of health care. A particular focus is the interaction (intersection) between these elements and their effect on awareness, education, active prevention and early detection of cancer, particularly breast cancer in women. Cancer is a disease caused by a mutation and rapid division of cells. Cancer is a general term describing many diseases; essentially there is a wide array of types of cancers. This vast differentiation makes it difficult to combat this disease and similarly the differences among individuals cause the course of this disease to vary greatly, cancer effects people differently. Breast cancer is one of the more well-known forms of cancer and is frequently touched upon or glazed over in discussion. A conversation may start with “I know someone who has or had cancer” but way to often this is where the conversation ends. The discussion on breast cancer needs to expand, to further the spread of information and understanding of the many aspects of this disease. “Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body” (What is Breast cancer). Breast cancer can be found in both male and female populations but it is particularly, prevalent among women, Breast cancer is the most pervasive
According to genetics and social science research there are striking differences between White and minority populations affected with breast cancer in the U.S. These disparities are likely due to a combination of cultural, environmental and genetic factors that differ between the groups. Historically, scientists have separately explored either the genetic or the social/behavioral contributions to cancer. The research team profiled in this case study takes the position that we cannot effectively grasp the complexity of cancer etiology, nor design appropriate
“African Americans have the highest death rate form all cancer sites combined and from malignancies of the lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, female breast, prostate, and cervix of all racial or ethnic groups in the United States (Elizabeth ward, 2004). The health disparities in African Americans and other racial groups are alarming. For this essay I choose to focus on the empirical facts on the disparities between African American women and European American women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and the disparity in mortality rates. Therefore many of the studies I found linked the disparity to race, poverty and environmental factors. American cancer society estimates, that in 2017 there will be 252,710 new breast cancer diagnosis
Currently mammography and ultrasound are basic imaging techniques for detection and localization of breast tumor. Breast Ultrasound is a typically painless medical test that uses reflected sound waves for further evaluation of a breast abnormality or a specific area seen on mammography. Ultrasound can locate and measure abnormalities or changes to determine if a breast lump is solid or filled with fluid. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast which may find tumors that are too small to feel. Women aged 40 to 74 years should have annual screening mammograms to lower chance of dying from breast cancer(2,15).Mammograms are less likely to find breast tumors in women younger than 50 years. This may
According to research, it has established that breast cancer is one of the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women despite them having a low incidence rate of breast cancer. It has attributed to the fact that most Hispanic women presents with advanced breast cancer at diagnosis, and thus is more likely to die from breast cancer compared with non-Hispanic white women. According to Banegas and Li (2012), an estimated number of 39510 breast cancer deaths in women occurred, and 226,870 new breast cancer cases were diagnosed in the US. Among all these cases, Hispanic women
Beyond discussion of this lethal disease come the individuals affected by it. In the United States alone breast cancer is the most common cancer. It is diagnosed in one out of eight women living in the United States (Stephan, 2010). Victims of breast cancer usually are more widespread amongst minorities in the U.S. African-American women and Hispanic women are most likely to have advanced diseases
Disparities of all kinds exist in modern day health care. One such disparity that is of particular interest is one that exists between Caucasian and African American women relating to their respective rates of breast cancer incidence and breast cancer survival. According to the American Cancer Society, Caucasian women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African American women however; Caucasian women have a higher survival rate than African American women (ACS, 2006, as cited in Leshner, 2006). This is to say that although Caucasian woman have a higher rate of breast cancer compared to African American women, Caucasian women have a higher rate of survival. This finding is indeed a disparity in heath care, and one that begs the question as to why this is so. The reasons as to why this disparity exists are numerous and very complex. Several factors play a role in substantiating the disparity in mortality rates related to breast cancer in African American women, including differences in spirituality and religion, differences in education surrounding breast cancer, and differences in socio economic standing as it relates to ones health promotion
Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women. Despite the many technological advances that have been made to detect breast cancer at earlier stages, it continues to kill more women than any other cancer. Breast cancer affects all women, but the mortality rates from it are significantly higher in Black women than any other group (Hunt, Whitman, & Hurlbert, 2013). These rates are especially concerning when considering that White women are diagnosed at much higher rates.
There are no symptoms at the early stages of breast cancer which makes early detection even more difficult. When tumors become large there is an obvious breast mass which is mostly not painful. Symptoms of breast cancer include breast thickening, skin irritation, tenderness, swelling, breast scales, distortion, redness tenderness, nipple retraction and ulceration, There may also be abnormal discharge.
As stated previously in 2014 the USA had approximately 20.3 million people who were diagnosed with cancer. When exploring the 2013 incident rates of men with cancer black men had an incident rate of 518. Compared to white men of 473.9, next came Hispanic and Asian; black males had the highest death rate among all races (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016b). In regards to women, white women had an incident rate of 417.4, followed by blacks, Hispanics, and Asians, but the highest death rate is among black women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016b). According to the statistics the needs for increased screening and care is needed in the African American and Hispanic community.
Molly redden explains why black women are facing death when breast cancer take control showing an increase of mortality in them rather than in white women. Redden mentions in the 2012, there were forty-two percent of black women will die having this disease. According to American Cancer Society, the researcher discuss death rate toll is expected to increase to a colossal amount. In other words, Redden believes that the American Cancer Society said to be that these black women are likely to be in danger as disconsolate, for that reason, they will hit harder than other races. The author finds significantly number of high risk factor, which contributed towards black women. As a result, this deadly disease of cancer becoming an issue for black
The Author reports that the new recommended age for mammograms, by the United States Preventative Services Task Force, has changed from 50 to 40 to reduce the harm from over screening and overtreatment. It also reports that self-breast examinations are no longer recommended on a regular basis. This recommendation comes from evidence that there are no major benefits of early screenings and that only “one cancer death is prevented for every 1,904 women” screened, age 40 to 49. Conversely, there is evidence that frequent early screenings can lead to overtreatment
Three-quarters of all breast cancer patients are not in any of the groups considered at increased risk for breast cancer, indicating that not all risk factors are understood. As a result, doctors recommend that every woman should familiarize herself with the techniques for monthly breast self-examination. X-ray examination of the breasts, a technique called mammography, can detect tumors before they are large enough to be felt and increase the odds for successful treatment. The American Cancer Society recommends that women over age 40
The symptoms of breast cancer vary in different woman, and men sometimes to. A few symptoms of breast cancer is lumps, swollen lymph nodes under arm, leaking, changing color, and many other symptoms. Three main ones are lumps, lymph nodes swollen underarm, and last is change in color. A first symptom a person might encounter is a lump in his or her breast. According to American Cancer Society (2017) “The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass.” A second symptom is lymph nodes swollen. According to American Cancer Society (2017) “Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in
Breast cancer accounts for one third of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States (Cauley, et al., 2007). The first sign in the process of this disease is a lump that forms around the breasts. For this reason, it is necessary to get the yearly mammograms once a woman reaches a certain age. Also, monthly self-examinations can aid in finding breast cancer early. If this condition is found early enough, chances of survival are abundant. Most women who get breast cancer are older than 50 with 86% of the deaths occurring in this age group (Cauley, et al., 2007). Postmenopausal women have a higher risk for breast cancer, because the risk increases when levels of endogenous estradiol rise (Cauley, et al., 2007). Breast cancer is the most common cancer that occurs in women. This epidemic has a higher incidence rate among white women than in African American women, but African American women have a higher mortality rate (Breast Cancer Risk Factors, 2010). White women are more apt to develop this disease than any other ethnicity. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African American women (Breast Cancer Risk Factors, 2010).