Minority Women and Breast Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 227,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. While breast cancer is diagnosed 10 percent less frequently in African American women than white women, African American women are 40 percent more likely to die from the disease. Similarly, Hispanic women are 30 percent less likely to have breast cancer as white women, but they also face a higher risk of dying from the disease. Early detection – including clinical and self exams and yearly mammograms over age 40 – is key to increasing the survival rate.

• View the Presidential Proclamation on Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Read the statement from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Watch Sec. Sebelius' statement on YouTube
• Learn more: Breast cancer basics from womenshealth.gov | How to perform a breast self exam from MedlinePlus
• Get cancer data and statistics from the Office of Minority Health
• Test your knowledge and take the breast cancer quiz and mammography quiz