Breast Cancer in African American Women By Peggy Kusi and Mercy Frimpong

What is breast Cancer? Cancer is the loss of ability of the body’s cells to regulate controlled and orderly growth. Breast Cancer is the formation of abnormal cells in the breast tissue. Normal(left) cancerous

Why is breast cancer a disparity? Disparities A health disparity is a health condition or disease that is higher for one group than the general population. African American women have higher mortality rate than other women of different races. In other words African American women die more from breast cancer. What is a disparity? Why is breast cancer a disparity?

Why is breast cancer a health disparity in African AMERICAN WOMEN? “Studies suggest that this disparity is due to African American women being diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage, and receiving treatment later after diagnosis” (http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/what_cdc_ is_doing/aamm.htm) Black women are more likely to die from this cancer more than other races. Breast cancer is mostly common in White women but African Americans tend to die more from it more. Black women have a 37% higher death rate than white women. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 90% in white women and only 77% for black women.

Risk factors and Symptoms Nipple discharge Bone pain Breast pain and discomfort Skin ulcers Swelling of the arm with the side of the developing cancer Weight loss Age Weight Diet and lifestyle Menstrual and Reproductive Family and personal history

Stages of Breast Cancer Size of tumor Lymph nodes have cancer Metastases In situ No I <2cm IIA 2 to 5cm Possible IIB 2 to 5 cm >5cm Yes IIIA >5 cm but hasn’t reached the chest wall IIIB >5cm and may have reached the chest wall or skin IV Any size

diagnosis Mammogram Ultrasound Fine-needle aspiration Core needle biopsy Excisional biopsy Incisional biopsy

Breast cancer INCIDENCE RATE The graph shows that White women have a higher screening percentage than Black, Asian, Hispanic.

Mortality Rate in African American women Female Breast Cancer Mortality Rates by Race and Ethnicity in Massachusetts:2003-2005 √ √ The graph shows the mortality rate In African Americans/Black of female breast cancer.

Mortality Rate

Factors related to African American women and mortality rate Lack of medical coverage Barriers to early detection and screening Unequal access to improvements in cancer treatment may contribute to the survival rate between African American women and White women.

Treatment Chemotherapy Radiation therapy Surgery to remove the tumor from the affected site

Prevention Eating a healthy diet Losing extra weight Regular exercise Reducing alcohol use Quitting smoking

Ways to decrease the disparity Increasing knowledge about breast cancer and mammography. Increasing awareness Increasing awareness of the low or no-cost mammogram services. Increasing the number of women who get a mammogram.

Breast Cancer awareness and support!!

Conclusion In conclusion African American women have a higher mortality rate than the general population mainly because of late prognosis Ways to help the African American community is to educate to community about the awareness of breast cancer and the importance of examinations.

Reference http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/data/sum maries/massachusetts.htm http://www.statehealthfacts.org/ http://www.mass.gov/dph/masschip http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/About- Breast-Cancer/Stages.aspx http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19320967 http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/ disparities/cancer-health-disparities http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/de tailedguide/breast-cancer-what-is-breast-cancer

Reference(cont) http://komen.healthology.com/breast- cancer/article3490.htm http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/healthdisparities/w hat_cdc_is_doing/aamm.htm http://fbhc.org/Patients/BetterHealth/BreastCa ncer/home.html http://www.bestiary.com/ibc/ http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/genetics/sect2d. htm http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/bre astcancer.htm