Does Use of Screening Mammography Explain Racial and Ethnic Differences in Death from Breast Cancer?
Death rates from breast cancer in the United States have been falling over the past 10 to 15 years, probably because of earlier diagnosis by mammography and the development of more effective treatments. Even so, not all racial and ethnic groups have benefited equally from these advances. Non-Hispanic white women have benefited more than African-American, Hispanic, and Asian women. There are several reasons why these racial and ethnic differences in death rates may persist, including differences between groups in the growth characteristics of tumors, differences in the use of mammography, and differences in insurance coverage or the ability to pay for treatment. Doctors know that the most accurate predictor of how long a patient with breast cancer will live is the stage of the tumor (how far it has progressed) at the time of diagnosis.
Related Questions
- Do socioeconomic factors and insurance explain racial/ethnic disparities in receipt of recommended breast cancer care?
- How do breast cancer incidence and death rates differ for women from different racial or ethnic groups?
- What factors explain observed racial/ethnic differences in cervical cancer survival?
