Despite Increased Awareness Black Women Still Disproportionately Impacted By Breast Cancer

By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and health officials are urging women—especially those over 40—to make breast cancer screenings a routine part of their healthcare. While screenings can’t prevent breast cancer, they play a critical role in detecting the disease early, when it’s most treatable. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer found at a localized stage has a five-year relative survival rate of 99%.

Breast cancer continues to disproportionately affect Black women, who are more likely than their white or Hispanic counterparts to be diagnosed at younger ages and with more aggressive forms of the disease. Data from the American Cancer Society shows an estimated 40,530 new cases and 6,170 deaths are expected among Black wom