Black, white breast cancer death disparity

ATLANTA, March 3 (UPI) -- Breast cancer death rates have decreased for white women in every U.S. state, but are flat or rising for African-American women, a study said.

The study, published online ahead of print in the journal Cancer Causes and Control, found breast cancer death rates among African-American women decreased in 11 of 37 states with sufficient numbers for analysis and in the District of Columbia. However, death rates were flat in 24 states and higher in Arkansas and Mississippi.

American Cancer Society researchers led by Carol DeSantis analyzed mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1975 through 2004 by state and race.

At the national level, death rates began to decline in 1990 for white women and in 1991 for African-American women. However, the death rare decreased far slower in African-American women.

In 1991, death rates among African-American women were 18 percent higher compared to white women; by 2004, they were 36 percent higher, DeSantis said.

Access to and utilization of screening as well as regional variations in the quality and timeliness of treatment likely play important roles in the disparity, the researchers said.