A recent study published in JAMA titled “Characteristics Associated With Differences in Survival Among Black and White Women With Breast Cancer” by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that 5-year survival differences for white and African American women appear to be related to more advanced breast cancer at diagnosis rather than treatment differences. However, these results fail to show the full scope of the problem. Disparities in breast cancer outcomes among different racial and ethnic communities are based on the inequities of a complex interplay of social & economic factors such as where we live, work, learn and play as well as dynamics of power and influence. Simple solutions such as mammography and access to care ignore the social injustices that people experience in their lives that result in these differences we see in breast cancer incidence and mortality. Our factsheet "Health is not Just Healthcare: Inequities in Breast Cancer" includes more details. We need to continue to challenge conventional solutions to reduce breast cancer disparities when they focus heavily on promoting mammography and access to care. All too often such efforts fail to address underlying, persistent social injustices that lead to the differences in outcomes.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:49:00 +0000
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