Does Race or Ethnicity Affect Breast Cancer Risk?
All women should be aware of their risk for breast cancer; it can affect women of every age, race, and ethnic group. However, the rates of developing and dying from breast cancer vary among various racial and ethnic groups. According to the National Cancer Institute, white, non-Hispanic women have the highest overall incidence rate for breast cancer among U.S. racial/ethnic groups, while Korean American women have the lowest rate. Among women ages 40-50, African American women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than white women. African American women also have the highest death rate from breast cancer; Chinese American women have the lowest death rate. Several factors have been found to impact the breast cancer incidence and death rates among racial and ethnic groups. Differences in certain lifestyle behaviors — such as diet, exercise, and smoking and alcohol use — can impact the risk of many diseases, including heart disease and breast cancer. The higher death rate from breas
