Black women have the highest breast cancer death rates of all racial and ethnic groups and are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States. Breast cancer deaths are going down fastest among white women. Black women are more likely to die of breast cancer than other women.

Many factors contribute to this difference—

• Black women often have cancers that grow faster and are harder to treat.
• Black women often have fewer social and economic resources than other women.
• Black women are less likely to get prompt follow-up care when their mammogram shows something that is not normal.
• Black women are less likely to get high-quality treatment if they have cancer.

Ways to Lower Your Risk for Breast Cancer

Get mammograms regularly. If you are 50 to 74 years old, be sure to have a screening mammogram every two years. If you are 40 to 49 years old, talk to your doctor about when and how often you should have a screening mammogram.

Are you worried about the cost? Find out if you qualify for a free or low-cost mammogram through CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

Know your family history of breast cancer. If you have a parent, sibling, or child with breast cancer, ask your doctor how you can lower your risk.

Learn about hormone replacement therapy. Some women use hormone replacement therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits and find out if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

More Information

Breast Cancer Disparities

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Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention