For medical professionals and advocates in North Texas, new breast cancer statistics from the American Cancer Society offer hope and a reminder of the work needed to improve access to early detection and screening.
According to the study, breast cancer mortality rates have fallen by 44% since 1989, indicating that improved technology is contributing to improved detection rates. However, the incidence of breast cancer increased by 1% each year from 2012 to 2021. Asian American and Pacific Islander women, as well as women under 50, saw the sharpest increases.
Dr. Heather MacArthur, clinical director of the breast cancer program at UT Southwestern’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, said the overall increase in breast cancer incidence reflects improvements in screening technology and education. He said he believed it. He said medical authorities are trying to understand the reasons behind the increase in younger patients.
“This is likely a function of environmental factors, so more work needs to be done in terms of improving screening of younger participants,” she said.
Cancer incidence among AAPI women increased by 2.6% annually from 2012 to 2021. The report cites the increasing number of Asian immigrants, who may be at higher risk of breast cancer than U.S.-born Asian women, as a possible contributing factor.
Frances Leong, director of Richardson’s Asian Breast Health Support Project, said the report was a “wake-up call” for Asian women to take care of their breast health.
“Aging age after immigrating to the United States, changes in diet, delaying childbearing after age 35, and use of hormone replacement therapy may all contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer in Asian women,” Leung said. I wrote by email. . “Unfortunately, Asian women have lower screening rates than other ethnic groups, especially those who are uninsured and low-income.”
Over the past 20 years, Asian American and Pacific Islander patients have gone from being the fourth most likely group to develop breast cancer before age 50 to being on par with white patients, according to Dr. William Dahut of the ACS. The odds are higher than that of blacks and Hispanics. Chief Scientific Officer.
The MacArthur University Southwestern professor says clinical trials have historically reflected white, non-Hispanic populations, and the research efforts of organizations, institutions, and institutions, including her organization, aim to change that. He said there was.
“We’re actually applying the strategies we learned from these studies to non-Hispanic whites,” she says. “However, different strategies may be needed for Asians, blacks, and Hispanics, and studies that actually target these patient populations are needed.”
Black women have a 5% lower incidence of the disease than white women, but a 38% higher mortality rate. In Texas, black women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer and more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
Groups, including the Dallas Sisters Network, provide resources, education and funding to African American breast cancer survivors.
Chapter President Zorian Bruner said the chapter also encourages members to participate in clinical trials.
“It takes a lot of community outreach to get us to do that,” Bruner said. “It might just come from fear, or it might just come from other stories we’ve heard over the years about clinical trials…but we really want more participants. ”
UT Southwestern and other local organizations have also launched efforts to address the socioeconomic barriers that keep quality testing out of reach for historically marginalized communities.
MacArthur pointed to UT Southwestern’s Redbird Campus, which opened in 2022, and the university’s services at Parkland Memorial Hospital, which are available to patients who may not have adequate insurance. Patients at both locations have access to network-based clinical trials.
“There’s a very intentional effort across the network to also look at racial disparities and socio-economic disparities,” MacArthur said.
Parkland Health offers free mammograms to women in certain Dallas County ZIP codes, as well as a mobile mammography van that visits Parkland area clinics, local health fairs, community events and churches. We offer
Parkland Health nurse Brianna Anderson said the report to her is a reminder of the importance of screening and health literacy.
“Women need to know that mammography itself won’t keep cancer away, but catching cancer early can save lives,” she says.
Anderson said she is excited to discuss the report’s findings with patients, particularly the 99% five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed early.
“This in itself is surprising, and it’s a number you don’t get for other cancers,” she says.
Any tips? Email Kailey Broussard at kbroussard@kera.org.
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