Breast Cancer in Women from Different Racial/Ethnic Groups Fact Sheet No. 47

Abstract

Women of different racial/ethnic backgrounds have different rates of breast cancer occurrence and survival from the disease. In general, women from lower socioeconomical groups, regardless of their race/ethnicity, have lower rates of occurrence of breast cancer but have higher death rates from breast cancer. However, there are exceptions depending on age, race/ethnicity, and place of residence. The differences in breast cancer occurrence and survival appear to be the result of cultural and environmental effects rather than genetic differences between ethnic groups. Women from different ethnic groups may be given different medical treatments for breast cancer.