Everybody is at risk of breast cancer. Whether you are a man or a woman, whether you are white, Asian, Black, or Hispanic you are at risk. However, sometimes it’s important to understand how your ethnic background can play a role in understanding your breast health.
With a screening provided by ThermApproach, located in Northwest Ohio, you, along with your physician, can be more pro-active when it comes to your risk of getting breast cancer.
Historically, black women have been more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of forty, and more likely to die from the disease. Partially responsible for that, is that many black women were overall less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women. However, according to a report from the American Cancer Society in October 2015, found that for the first time, rates of breast cancer among black and white women were about equal. [1]
Also, in October of 2015, another study was published online by the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. This study showed that minority women, especially black and American Indian/Alaska Native women, are more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced state breast cancer as well as receive treatment below the standard of care of white women. [2]
Black women also were 40% to 70% more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer across all four subtypes compared to women of other ethnicities.
Hispanic women were 30% to 40% more likely to be diagnosed with stage II and/or stage III disease across all four subtypes compared to women of other ethnicities.
American Indian/Alaska Native women were 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with stage IV triple-negative breast cancer than women of other ethnicities.
According to the American Cancer Society, the reasons of the higher rate of death is likely due to many factors, including socioeconomic, genetic, and biological factors.
There is good news. According to SBI (Society of Breast Imaging) board member, Wendy B. DeMartini, MD, "Since 1990 breast cancer death rates dropped 23% in African-American women -- approximately half that in whites. We changed our approach to help save more African-American women and others at high risk from this deadly disease."
What do all those numbers and statistics mean to you? We know that your breast health is important. Breast cancer crosses every socioeconomic line, every race, every culture. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as talked about, nor is there a great awareness and action among different ethnic groups. However, with the right tools, you can advocate for yourself and for your community to provide resources for better breast health.
We are one of your resources. With a yearly screening provided by ThermApproach, you can be more pro-active when it comes to your breast health.
At ThermAppoach, we utilize sophisticated infrared technology and innovative computer software to capture the images in the form of an infrared thermogram, or heat picture. All reports are interpreted by medical doctors that are Board Certified in Thermology.
Before you can feel it, thermal imaging can see it. Please call our office to schedule your screening today.
_________________
[1] Breast Cancer Screening in Women at Higher-Than-Average Risk: Recommendations From the ACR
Monticciolo, Debra L. et al.
Journal of the American College of Radiology , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , 408 – 414
[2] Chen, Lu, and Christopher I. Li. “Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment by Hormone Receptor and HER2 Status.” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, American Association for Cancer Research, 13 Oct. 2015, cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2015/08/25/1055-9965.EPI-15-0293?sid=e7a839a3-c467-4aab-ae5f-3005b578b93e.
