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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Although black women are less likely to have breast cancer than white women, they are more likely to die from the disease. Many factors are linked to this disparity -- and now tumor biology can be added to the list.
Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston examined two independent series of clinical trials for breast cancer treatments. Black women came to the trial with later stages of breast cancer and larger tumors, on average. Their tumors were more likely to be estrogen-receptor negative, so they were more difficult to treat. Analysis of tumor biology included primary tumor size, receptor-negative status, and spread of the tumor.
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The study reveals black women have more dangerous tumors, on average, which contributes to lower breast cancer survival rates. Hispanic and white women both had 10-year survival rates, which were 10-percent higher than black women when treated with chemotherapy. Other treatments options yielded similar results.
Socioeconomic status, access to health care, and racial bias are other factors that appear contribute to higher mortality rates in black women with breast cancer.
Researchers concluded more efforts should be done to increase breast cancer awareness and screening within the black population.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Cancer, published online Oct. 23, 2006
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