The Issue Of Breast Cancer

The current recommendation is that women over the age of 40 should receive a mammogram every 1-2 years (Kidd, Colbert & Jatoi, 2015). Breast cancer mortality is higher in ethnic minorities including, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans (O’Keefe, Meltzer, & Bethea, 2015). With Black, Hispanic, Asian, and White women with breast cancer in a low socioeconomic status, there is also an association with higher mortality rates (O’Keefe et al., 2015). The causes for these disparities is multifactorial and include knowledge deficit, incorrect perceptions about cancer, embarrassment, and prioritization of competing personal obligations, such as working or taking care of family members (Nonzee, et al., 2015). To add to the problem, minority women are much more likely to have high deductible insurance plans, or no insurance coverage at all (Tangka, et al., 2017). These issues lead to later stages of diagnosis of breast cancer, going longer between mammograms, lack of follow-up after suspicious findings on mammograms, and once diagnosed, incomplete treatment of breast cancer (O’Keefe et al.,

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

Declining cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States have continued through the first decade of the twenty-first century. However, Black Americans continue to have the higher cancer mortality rates and shorter survival times. This review discusses and compares only breast and prostate cancer mortality rates and mortality trends for Blacks and Whites. The complex relationship between socioeconomic status and race and its contribution to racial cancer disparities is discussed.

“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

African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a rate of one-in-ten. Caucasian women see a rate of 1-in-8 however, 1-in-31 African American women are found die from their illness where 1-in-37 Caucasian die from breast cancer (ASPCS, 2014). These numbers are

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.

In Summation, there were 373,563 women identified to meet the criteria of invasive breast cancer and used in the study that consisted of 268,675 non-Hispanic white; 34928, Hispanic white; 38751, black; 25211, Asian; and 5998, other ethnicities (Iqbal, Ginsburg & Rochon, 2015). The results of the study concluded that black women were more likely to be diagnosed beyond stage I and to die from cancer during the time period of the study when compared with non-Hispanic white and Asian Women. Socioeconomic status, access to health care and adherence to cancer treatment all played significant roles in the survival rates in patients (Iqbal, Ginsburg & Rochon, 2015). Hispanic women tended to be diagnosed after stage I due to lack of cancer awareness among the ethnicity. Dietary factors associated with ethnicity also seemed to play a role in the less aggressive breast cancers and higher host response exhibited in Asian women. Statistically Hispanic white populations eat a diet much richer in fats and sugars than those of Asian descent. This has proved detrimental in the survival rates of breast cancer, as a body mass index of 40 or higher, was associated with an increased risk of mortality in Hispanic breast cancer sufferers (Iqbal, Ginsburg & Rochon, 2015).

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, it accounts for one of every three diagnoses in the United States. Breast cancers are malignancies, life threatening tumors that develops in one or both breasts.

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).