Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women and the second-leading cause of cancer death. This year, approximately 250,000 women in the United States will receive the diagnosis of breast cancer, and 40,000 will die of the disease.
The good news is that breast cancer mortality rates have dropped by 40 percent in the last 25 years. The bad news is that some communities continue to suffer from unacceptably high mortality rates despite significant advances in early detection and treatment.
African-American women have a 40 percent higher breast cancer mortality rate compared to white women and, depending on where you live in the U.S., the mortality difference is even greater. African-American women in the state of Missouri – and specifically certain areas of the St. Louis region – have breast cancer mortality statistics that are significantly higher than the national average.
In the St. Louis region, breast cancer mortality rates are significantly higher for African-American women compared to white women despite having numerous health care facilities. In St. Louis County, white women have a breast cancer mortality rate of 18 deaths per 100,000 women, and African-American women have a mortality rate of 34 deaths per 100,000. Thus, African-American women have a mortality rate that is 90 percent higher than white women in the same county.
While the reasons for these disparities are complex, there are things each woman can do to reverse the trend.  Â
Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink daily, the greater the risk of breast cancer.
Don’t smoke. Studies have linked an increased risk of breast cancer with tobacco use.
Exercise routinely. Physical exercise helps to maintain a healthy weight and can help prevent breast cancer (and many other diseases) later in life. Recommendations are for at least 150 minutes of routine aerobic exercise (walking at average pace) weekly.
Eat healthy foods. A large study of over 180,000 Nurses suggest that women who consumes over 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day had a lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who consumed less than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetables. Consult American Cancer Society or American Institute for Cancer Research for details on healthy eating tips.
Limit dose and duration of combination hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy (progestin and estrogen) increases your risk of breast cancer if taken over 3-5 years.
Know your family history. Document your family history of cancer and if any family members have undergone genetic testing. Discuss your family history with your health care provider by the age of 30. You may need to begin screening earlier than the age of 40.
Screen early. Begin annual screening at 40.
Practice self-awareness. Know your breasts!
Do not delay. Women who delay surgery and other recommended care after an abnormal mammogram have a lower survival than women who don’t have delays in therapy.
For more information: Mammography Van appointment: 800-600-3606; Show Me Healthy Women: http://health.mo.gov or 866-726-9926; Siteman Cancer Center: www.siteman.wustl.edu; American Cancer Society: www.cancer.gov.
Lannis Hall, MD, MPH, is director of Radiation Oncology at Siteman Cancer Center Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, Clinical Trials leader at Program to Eliminate Cancer Disparities, and assistant professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine.
