BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS

I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS, AND I HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE INVALUABLE IN PROVIDING SUPPORT, ENCOURGEMENT AND EDUCATION.  MOST RECENTLY I HAVE CONTACTED THE SISTERS NETWORK.  I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A CHAPTER IN THE ATLANTA AREA.  THE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN THAT I HAVE CONTACTED DO NOT BELONG TO ANY SUPPORT GROUP, THEY DO NOT SEE A NEED. 

 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION I FOUND ON THEIR SITE AS IT RELATES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BREAST CANCER SURVIVAL.

 

 

 

New Cases

 

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American women. An estimated 26,840 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2011. The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than in white women. Among younger women (under age 45), however, the incidence rate of breast cancer is higher in African Americans than in whites. Breast cancer incidence rates increased rapidly among African American women during the 1980s, largely due to increased detection as the use of mammography screening increased. Incidence rates stabilized among African American women aged 50 and older during 1995-2005, while rates decreased by 0.7% per year among women under age 50 from 1991-2005.

 

At this time, there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, which is why regular mammograms are so important. A woman’s best overall preventive health strategy is to reduce her known risk factors as much as possible by avoiding weight gain and obesity, engaging in regular physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake.  Women should consider the increased risk of breast cancer associated with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use when evaluating treatment options for menopausal symptoms. More information about breast cancer is available in the American Cancer Society publication Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, available online at  www.cancer.org.

Survival

 

The 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed in 1996-2004 among African American women was 78%, compared to 90% among whites. This difference can be attributed to both later stage at detection and poorer stage-specific survival among African American women. Only about half (51%) of breast cancers diagnosed among African American women are diagnosed at a local stage, compared to 62% among white women. Within each stage, 5-year survival is also lower among African American women.

 

Studies have documented unequal receipt of prompt, high-quality treatment for African American women compared to white women.6, 13-15 There is also evidence that aggressive tumor characteristics are more common in African American than white women.16-18 Other studies suggest factors associated with socioeconomic status may influence the biologic behavior of breast cancer.19-21 Thomson and colleagues, studying an all white Scottish population, suggest that poor women with breast cancers are more likely to be diagnosed with estrogen receptor-negative tumors.22 Poverty likely influences disease pathology and genetic markers of disease through lifelong dietary and reproductive habits.

 

*ACS African American 2010-2011 Cancer Facts