Breast Cancer Survival among African-Americans Living in the Midwest: Disparities and Recommendations to Decrease...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Socioeconomic status significantly impacts breast cancer risk and outcomes.
• Omaha, Nebraska faces high African-American poverty rates and healthcare access challenges.
• Breast cancer survivorship disparities exist among African-American women in Nebraska.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a baseline for breast cancer survivorship among African-American women in Nebraska.
• To examine the 5-year survival difference between African-American and White women.
• To identify factors associated with poor breast cancer survival in this population.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of state cancer registry data.
• Comparison of 5-year breast cancer survivorship rates between African-American and White women.
• Multivariable analysis to identify independent factors associated with survival.

Main Results:

• The 5-year survival rate for African-American women was 43%, compared to 75% for White women.
• This survival disparity persisted even after accounting for cancer staging differences.
• Independent factors associated with reduced survival included being African-American, older age, late-stage diagnosis, and lower socioeconomic status.

Conclusions:

• Targeted health promotion and education programs for younger African-American women are recommended due to earlier diagnosis.
• The high proportion of late-stage diagnoses emphasizes the need for universal breast cancer education.
• Future research should investigate treatment quality, timing, and comorbidity issues affecting African-American women.