Asian Americans see alarming rise in breast cancer
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Asian American and Pacific Islander women saw the steepest rise in breast cancer cases of any other group over a decade, according to a new report from the American Cancer Society.
Why it matters: While overall breast cancer deaths are falling, the report shows progress has been uneven and hindered by a stubborn rise in incidence of the disease, especially in middle-aged women.
What they found: Overall, breast cancer incidence among all groups grew 1% annually from 2012 to 2021.
- The concern is around the rise in women 50 and younger (1.4%), which is double the percentage change of women 50 years and older.
- AAPI women younger than 50 had second lowest rate of breast cancer in 2000 (57.4 per 100,000). By 2021, they had the highest rate (86.3 per 100,000) alongside white women (86.4 per 100,000.)
Zoom in: The numbers also show Black women have the lowest survival for every breast cancer subtype and stage except localized disease, with which they are 10% less likely to be diagnosed than white women (58% vs. 68%).
- Both American Indian/Alaska Native women and Black women have 38% higher mortality than white women, despite 5% lower incidence.
- "These gaps need to be rectified through systematic efforts to ensure access to high-quality screening and treatment for every woman," William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society, said in a statement.
