Abstract

Breast cancer continues to have a substantial impact on the health of women in the United States. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (excluding skin cancers) among women, with more than 210,000 new cases diagnosed in 2008 (the most recent year for which data are available). Incidence rates are highest among white women at 122.6 per 100,000, followed by blacks at 118 per 100,000, Hispanics at 92.8, Asian/Pacific Islanders at 87.9, and American Indian/Alaskan Natives at 65.6. Although deaths from breast cancer have been declining in recent years, it has remained the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women since the late 1980s with >40,000 deaths reported in 2008. Although white women are more likely to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer, black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than women of any other racial/ethnic group. In addition, studies have demonstrated that nonwhite minority women tend to have a more advanced stage of disease at the time of diagnosis. Breast cancer also occurs more often among women aged ≥50 years, those with first-degree family members with breast cancer, and those who have certain genetic mutations. Understanding who is at risk for breast cancer helps inform guidelines for who should get screened for breast cancer.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Miller JW, King JB, Joseph DA, Richardson LC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Institution

Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, 2858 Woodcock Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. aci8@cdc.gov

Source

MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 61 Suppl: 2012 Jun 15 pg 46-50

MeSH

Adult
African Continental Ancestry Group
Aged
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Breast Neoplasms
Early Detection of Cancer
Educational Status
European Continental Ancestry Group
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Healthcare Disparities
Hispanic Americans
Humans
Indians, North American
Mammography
Middle Aged
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Rural Population
Social Class
United States

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22695463