What the Research Shows
A review of NHS Digital cancer data published in BMJ Open by Cancer Research UK revealed that ethnicity significantly impacts the stage of cancer diagnosis for women in England. The findings are alarming, warning that inequalities in cancer care could worsen. Additionally, South Asian women, including those from Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani backgrounds, are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with late-stage breast cancers.
Although breast cancer is more common among white women in the UK than in black Caribbean and African women, this difference is thought to be linked to variations in reproductive and lifestyle factors, such as breastfeeding, lower post-menopausal body mass index, having more children at a younger age, lower alcohol intake, and reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
A survey by Cancer Research UK also found that women from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to report that they did not recognize any cancer warning signs or symptoms compared to white women (23% vs. 12%).
When asked about delays in seeking medical advice, ethnic minority women reported feeling less confident discussing their symptoms than white women.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Despite lower breast cancer incidence in black Caribbean, black African, Indian, and Pakistani women compared to the white population, these groups face a higher risk of being diagnosed with more aggressive, harder-to-treat breast cancers, often at later stages.
Evidence suggests that factors such as obesity and smoking among black, Asian, and mixed ethnic populations may become more similar to those seen in white populations over time, potentially leading to increased cancer rates in some groups. This trend is more pronounced in older women and in black ethnic groups compared to South Asian groups.
Black African women are about twice as likely as white women to be diagnosed with late-stage, high-grade breast cancer and are almost three times more likely to have oestrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer, a particularly hard-to-treat type. They are also more likely to be diagnosed with human epidermal growth factor receptor positive (HER2+) cancer, which can pose additional treatment challenges.
Overall, black women tend to have poorer outcomes following a breast cancer diagnosis. Contributing factors may include lower screening attendance (black and minority ethnic women are less likely to attend breast screening appointments), socioeconomic deprivation, more advanced tumour stages at diagnosis, biologically aggressive tumours, and higher rates of triple-negative breast cancer. Additionally, there is less awareness of breast cancer and its risk factors among black women.
What Does Breast Cancer UK Recommend?
We encourage everyone to take steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer, such as maintaining a healthy diet, keeping a healthy weight, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol intake, and avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals. For more information on breast cancer prevention, please visit our Prevention Hub.
How Is Breast Cancer UK Engaging with Ethnic Minorities?
We are actively reaching out to organisations that work with black, Asian, and mixed ethnic groups to improve our communications and help everyone embark on their breast cancer prevention journey.
To get started, we suggest taking our Breast Cancer Prevention Quiz, which will provide you with a personalized action plan to reduce your breast cancer risk. We also encourage you to explore the resources on our website to make informed decisions about your lifestyle and how to live healthier to prevent breast cancer.
