In January of this year, the American Cancer Society published its annual survey on cancer trends and mortality rates. The good news is that cancer rates in the United States decreased by 34% between 1994 and 2022. The bad news is that cancer survival rates for black women, including breast cancer and other cancers, have not improved.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in black women in the United States in fact, according to the study. Black women under 75 have a mortality rate of 38% higher than their white counterparts
Unfortunately, this complies with the poor results for the health of black women in fields such as cardiovascular disease and cerebral vascular accidents, diabetes and maternal mortality.
The report suggests that the same things that have improved overall cancer mortality rates, including better and previous screening and aggressive treatment and clinical trials, have not been as accessible to black women in this country. Healthy equity defenders sound the alarm in the name of black women.
Ifeoma Udoh, executive vice-president of policy, advocacy and science to the health imperative of black women, says that screening standards established by the recommendations of the Ferive Services Task Force (USPSTF) of the United States “often neglect the specific health needs of black women”.
The official directives updated suggest screening every two years from 40 years old, a change from previous recommendations that recommended from the age of 50. Being detected and diagnosed earlier has marked progress, but Udoh says that it is not enough. She says: “He insufficiently approaches the unique challenges and the risks prior to which black women face.” Often, black women develop more aggressive cancers and often at younger ages.
Magnolia Contreras, Vice-President of Community Health in Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, says that many reasons for disparities in health results must be discussed. Some concern access and others could be physical. “Often black women have dense breasts,” she says, which can make them more difficult to detect. “We have the hope of continuous progress in treatment because science evolves so quickly,” explains Contreras.
She and Udoh agree that there is an essential role for clinical trials that include black women. Historically, black women have not participated in the tests and are considerably included in the collection and analysis of the data.
Although the advances are carried out in cancer treatment, UDOH says: “The tests that do not have a sufficiently large cohort of black women will not have enough data.” She says that the data should not be generalized – in other words, there is no one -sized correspondence. “It will take institutions to double in the name of black, brown, urban and rural women”, and with the uncertainties of federal funding for research and access to care, within the new administration, things could get worse. “But we must remember that the federals are not the only sources of financing.”
Contreras says that the DFCI works in close collaboration with individuals and communities on access and affordability. She also says that DFCI has a precious confidential tool on her website called Assess Your Risk which can help any woman to assess her potential risk of breast and cervix cancer. “Women can print it and share it with their own suppliers,” says Conteras.
Consider the ways in which you can manage your risks for yourself.
- Here is what you should consider doing now
- Take the time to know the history of your family’s health.
- Does cancer take place in your family?
Talk to family members on both sides of your family.
- Many women make the mistake of only looking at their family’s mother’s side.
- But the risk of breast cancer can be transmitted on the father’s side of your family.
- Find a doctor or supplier with whom you feel comfortable and set regular appointments. It is always better to have this first visit before you need it. While you are there, plan your annual mammography.
Financially, it is easier to be tested if you have health care coverage through your employer, Medicaid or Medicare.
- But if you are not currently insured, consult your options within the Act respecting affordable care or community programs which offer low -cost or cost -cost mammograms and other cancer screening. Many areas even have mobile mammography vans which offer free projections.,
Adjust your well-being and lifestyle.
- Clean your diet by reducing salt, sugar and processed foods, including sodas. Abandon smoking, manage stress and access a regular exercise routine to reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity and other chronic diseases.
- Also reduce your alcohol consumption, which can increase your risk of cancer.
