Breast Cancer Disparities Among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)

Black and African American Women

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• Highest Mortality Rate: According to the American Cancer Society, Black women experience a 38%–40% higher breast cancer death rate than White women—the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group in the United States.

• Younger Women at Greater Risk: Black women younger than age 50 are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as White women of the same age.

• Aggressive Disease: Black women are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype that grows rapidly, has fewer treatment options, and is more likely to recur.

• Survival Gap: Black women have lower five-year relative survival rates at every stage of diagnosis, reflecting persistent inequities in access to timely, high-quality care.

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American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Women

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• Higher Mortality: American Indian and Alaska Native women are approximately 4%–6% more likely to die from breast cancer than White women.

• Lower Screening Rates: AI/AN women experience some of the lowest mammography and routine breast cancer screening rates in the nation.

• Later Diagnosis: They are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, when treatment is more complex and survival rates are lower.

• Healthcare Barriers: Geographic isolation, limited access to specialty care, transportation challenges, and healthcare disparities contribute to poorer outcomes.

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Hispanic and Latina Women

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• Leading Cause of Cancer Death: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Hispanic women in the United States.

• Later Stage at Diagnosis: Hispanic and Latina women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages of breast cancer, often due to barriers such as lack of insurance, language differences, limited access to preventive care, and lower screening rates.

• Younger Age at Diagnosis: Many Hispanic women are diagnosed at younger ages than non-Hispanic White women.

• Survival Challenges: Delayed diagnosis and unequal access to treatment contribute to lower survival outcomes for many Hispanic and Latina women.

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The Need for Action

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These disparities are not caused by biology alone—they are driven by inequities in healthcare access, social and economic factors, and systemic barriers that prevent early detection and timely treatment. Every woman deserves an equal opportunity to survive breast cancer.

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At Fighting Together to Save Lives (FTTSL), we are committed to reducing these disparities by providing education, access to mammograms, patient navigation, financial assistance, survivorship support, and culturally responsive resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. We believe breast cancer does not discriminate—but access to care often does. Together, we can change that through education, early detection, and equitable healthcare for all.