“My first thought was, ‘Really? Me, breast cancer?’ I just couldn’t believe it,” said actress and comedian Wanda Sykes on The Ellen Degeneres Show in 2011. Sykes’s family had a history of breast cancer on her mother’s side, but that wasn’t what prompted her doctors to discover her cancer. At the age of 47 she had cosmetic surgery to reduce her breast size, and the cancer was discovered afterward when pathologists examined the breast tissue that had been removed. She was fortunate that her cancer was caught at a very early stage when treatments are more effective.
Studies have shown that black women are less likely than white women to get breast cancer, but they are more likely than white women to die of breast cancer…60% more likely. That is an alarming number. In trying to uncover why that might be the case, researchers have found that breast cancer in black women tends to happen at younger ages and in more advanced forms, and tends to be discovered when the cancer is in a more advanced stage. Black women are two times more likely to develop triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease that does not respond as well to treatment.
Triple negative breast cancer and young ages for diagnosis are also characteristics of breast cancers in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations. Several studies have found that about one out of every five African American women with breast cancer has a BRCA mutation, which helps explain at least some of the more dangerous cancers they face.
Can identifying a genetic mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2 make a difference?
Yes. It provides an opportunity to catch breast cancers early, when they are more likely to respond to treatment. Any woman found to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation has a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer. So, when a woman is identified as having this risk, doctors recommend she have heightened breast screening. This includes starting mammograms at an earlier age, and using MRIs to detect breast cancer in addition to the mammograms. It also means health insurers will be more likely to pay for these extra screening tests. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, health insurers are required to cover preventative care services (like mammograms) for free, with no co-pays, for women who are recommended by doctors to get them.
What you can do about it
- If you have multiple family members with breast or ovarian cancer, contact a genetic counselor to discuss your risk (go to www.nsgc.org to find a genetic counselor near you).
- Talk to your doctor about how to do self-breast exams.
- Have your doctor perform a clinical breast exam once per year.
- Ask your doctor about when to start screening mammograms.
- Become an advocate: join an organization that promotes healthy living for black women like the Black Women’s Health Initiative and spread the word.
It is time to reduce the devastating impact of breast cancer in black women.
Take the next step:
- Watch our video on genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancers.
- Read more on identifying and treating inflammatory breast cancer.
The University of Michigan Cancer Genetics Clinic provides counseling for people with a personal or family history of cancers that may have genetic links. If a link is confirmed, our specialized physician and genetic counselors will develop a plan for additional screening or lifestyle changes to help reduce cancer risk.
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 1,000 doctors, nurses, care givers and researchers are united by one thought: to deliver the highest quality, compassionate care while working to conquer cancer through innovation and collaboration. The center is among the top-ranked national cancer programs, and #1 in Michigan for cancer patient care. Seventeen multidisciplinary clinics offer one-stop access to teams of specialists for personalized treatment plans, part of the ideal patient care experience. Patients also benefit through access to promising new cancer therapies.
