For black women in the U.S., the odds of surviving breast cancer need to change

The Seventies were marked by the “second wave” of feminism the starting of the breast cancer awareness movement, in which several distinguished public figures drew attention to the need for education, research and support for this disease. Since then, great strides have been made in stopping, detecting and treating breast cancer, and significantly fewer women are actually dying from the disease. However, this progress has not benefited everyone equally; Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer compared to white women. The difference amongst younger women is much more stark: Black women under the age of 50 are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as white women of the same age.

As a physician and scientist – and as an individual of African descent – ​​I’m acutely aware of the devastating impact breast cancer has on our community. In my greater than twenty years of clinical practice, I’m conversant in the proven fact that the same disease affects people in alternative ways, regardless of race, ethnicity and socioeconomic background.

I’m committed not only to eliminating health disparities, but in addition to higher understanding those that experience them. Who they’re? Where do they live? When they get the life-changing news that they’ve cancer? And when will they find out how to navigate the health care system to receive appropriate and optimal care?

The sad reality is that this Black men and women have lower rates of cancer screening overall. In black women, breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in advanced stages, when the disease is more complicated to treat, and it’s triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form for which there are fewer treatment options, is twice as likely to be diagnosed. Furthermore, black women have lowest 5-year relative survival rate for every stage of breast cancer at diagnosis. This indicates significant gaps in access to quality care and treatment after diagnosis.

At the heart of these inequalities is a particularly complex history of discrimination, prejudice and distrust in the health care system. This history, combined with the lived experiences of many Black women today, often limit and even prevent them from accessing cancer screening opportunities and in search of care and support after diagnosis. This discrepancy also applies to participation in clinical trials aimed toward developing latest, potentially breakthrough drugs. It is well-known that racial and ethnic minorities proceed to be underrepresented in clinical trials, with recently published data estimating that only roughly 4-7% of participants in cancer clinical trials are Black. Even this small percentage is believed to be an underestimate, on condition that only about one-third of cancer clinical trials take race into consideration. In addition to lack of trust in physicians, aspects contributing to low participation in clinical trials include study design (e.g., lack of diverse recruitment), healthcare skilled bias, recruitment requirements (e.g., exclusion of individuals with other diseases), and barriers to access.

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To achieve true health equity for all and enable Black women to profit from scientific advances in breast cancer screening, diagnosis and care, these disparities should be addressed. Despite the many barriers, I consider that by working together we will find ways to make progress. No one person or organization can address these challenges alone; this can require cooperation and partnership towards a standard mission.

To that end, Pfizer has partnered with the American Cancer Society to start making changes where they’re most urgently needed: in communities which are disproportionately affected by breast and prostate cancer and underserved. By latest “Change the odds” Through this initiative, we are going to raise awareness of free and low-cost screening, increase access to support and patient navigation services, and supply general details about clinical trials.

As a black woman, I understand how necessary it’s to take care of my very own health to get the care I deserve – and I encourage every woman over the age of 40 or younger: If you could have risk aspects, corresponding to family history, seek regular breast screenings towards cancer. However, as a physician and advocate, I do know that the health care community simply needs to do a greater job of advocating for women of color. Every life lost to breast cancer is a life we ​​cannot afford to lose.

As Pfizer’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aida Habtezion leads Pfizer’s global medical and safety organization, chargeable for providing patients, physicians and regulators with details about the protected and appropriate use of Pfizer medicines. He also directs Pfizer’s Translational Medicine Equity Institute, an initiative to achieve health equity. Prior to joining Pfizer, Dr. Habtezion was a practicing physician and scientist at Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.