Studies Reveal Why Breast Cancer Hits Black Women Harder

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Age was also a factor, with women 73 or older three times less likely to get the procedure, compared with women aged 51 or younger. Lymph node dissection is considered optional for elderly women but, even so, the researchers were surprised by the size of the discrepancy.

Overall, 11 percent of patients in the database did not undergo the procedure.

"In general, there shouldn't be a non-clinical reason that influences whether or not patients receive this important diagnostic procedure," said Dr. Michael Halpern, study lead author and strategic director of health services research at the American Cancer Society. "We don't have any idea on exactly why this happens. Our guess is that there are a number of barriers related to communication between patients and physicians."

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More information

The American Cancer Society has more on race, ethnicity and breast cancer.

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