Whether a woman is uninsured or covered by Medicaid could be a key clue in helping to improve breast cancer outcomes for racial and economic minorities..
Breast cancer incidence rates are higher among Blacks than Whites for women under age 45. It is rarely diagnosed in women younger than 25 years of age. The median age a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer is 61 years. The median age of diagnosis for black women is 58 years and 62 years for White women
This year, more than 268,600 women and 2,600 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (cancer that has spread from where it started in the breast into the surrounding healthy tissue), and more than 42,260 will die from the disease. If diagnosed early and treated before it spreads, five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 99 percent.
You might be at an increased risk for breast cancer if you are a woman who:
- Has abnormal genes, such as mutated BRCA-1, BRCA-2 or PALB-2 genes.
- Began her menstrual period before age 12 or began menopause after age 55.
- Used hormone replace therapy (HRT) with estrogen and progesterone for more than 10 years.
- Has a family history of breast cancer, colorectal cancer or ovarian cancer.
- Has a personal history of ovarian cancer.
- Is currently using or has recently used birth control pills.
- Has never had children, or had her first child after age 30.
- Smokes or uses tobacco.
You might be at an increased risk for breast cancer if you are a woman or man who:
- Is overweight or obese.
- Is not physically active.
- Is over age 40. Most breast cancer is diagnosed in women over 40. On average, men with breast cancer are diagnosed at age 68.
- Has already had cancer in one breast.
- Has a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
- Has had radiation therapy close to his or her chest.
My Health Matters hopes to work with governmental health agencies and providers in bringing awareness of breast cancer to education, awareness and early detection.