The struggle for health equity among African Americans, particularly concerning breast cancer, is a complex and multifaceted issue deeply rooted in historical, social, economic, and healthcare disparities. Breast cancer is a significant health concern for all women, but African American women face unique challenges that can lead to disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Here are some key factors contributing to the struggle for health equity in breast cancer among African Americans:
Socioeconomic Factors: African American women are more likely to face socioeconomic barriers, and limited access to quality healthcare.
Healthcare Access: Barriers to healthcare access and limited availability of healthcare facilities in minority communities, can prevent these women from receiving timely and appropriate breast cancer screenings and treatment. Aside from knowledge of this factor, it may also reduce participation in research and the offer of clinical trials.
Healthcare Quality: Even when African American women have access to healthcare, they may receive suboptimal care due to biases, discrimination, and disparities in the quality of care provided. This can lead to poorer outcomes.
Early Detection Awareness: Lack of early detection awareness based on screening guidelines of cancer detection systems and recommendations of cancer authorities. These often set the standard by age (40 or 50 years of age) for screening and screening modalities rather than other factors which can result in lower rates of early detection and/or refusals to screen. African American women may require screening years prior to such screening guidelines.
Genetic Factors: Some studies suggest that African American women may have a higher prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer, a more aggressive subtype that can be harder to treat.
Cultural and Trust Issues: Cultural beliefs, mistrust of the healthcare system, and historical injustices have contributed to a sense of mistrust among some African Americans, which can discourage seeking medical care or participating in clinical trials.
Research and Clinical Trials: Historically, African Americans have been underrepresented in clinical trials for breast cancer treatments, which can limit access to potentially life-saving therapies and contribute to disparities in treatment options.
Addressing these disparities and achieving health equity in breast cancer care for African American women requires a multi-pronged approach:
Community Outreach and Education: Efforts to raise awareness about breast cancer,
promote regular screenings, and educate our communities about screening modalities and methods aside from the single age base guidelines (increased health literacy). Promote self-advocacy at the grassroots level, provide knowledge based resources and navigational safety nets.
Improved Access to Care: Expanding access to affordable healthcare, including insurance coverage, and increasing the number of healthcare facilities in underserved communities is essential.
Cultural Competence and Anti-Bias Training: Healthcare providers should receive cultural competence training to understand and address the unique needs of African American patients; and to examine inherit beliefs about the African American culture to confront stigmas, biases and thereby reduce biases in healthcare delivery.
Diverse Clinical Trials: Ensuring that clinical trials include diverse populations, including African Americans; by offering trials and supporting access to such trials could lead to better treatments tailored to their specific needs.
Policy Changes: Advocacy for policies that address systemic racism, improve healthcare access, and eliminate disparities in healthcare delivery is crucial for achieving health equity. As such the social determinants of health must directly address how we increase access, quality, stability through safety nets and navigational systems for delivery.
The struggle for health equity among African Americans in breast cancer care is ongoing, but with concerted efforts at the individual, community, healthcare system, and policy levels, progress can be made in reducing disparities and improving outcomes for all women, regardless of their racial or ethnic background, where and how we live. And so the question remains does our future hold promise?