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Black women get breast cancer earlierDate: 17/01/2008 08:41:18
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Black women develop breast cancer an average of two decades earlier than white women, new research suggests.
A study by Cancer Research UK discovered that black women tend to be diagnosed 21 years younger than their white counterparts.
The average age of diagnosis among black patients at Homerton University Hospital between 1994 and 2005 was just 46, compared to 67 for white patients.
The study also revealed that the survival rate tends to be poorer among black women and that their breast cancer tends to be more aggressive and less responsive.
Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said that the findings may have implications for breast examination among black communities.
The expert commented: "If these results are confirmed in follow-up studies, it might be appropriate to alter screening services offered to black women to better reflect the age at which they are diagnosed with breast cancer - but at the moment it's too early to suggest any changes to the screening programme because the study was so small."
The charity Breast Cancer Care said that the findings are "worrying" and revealed that 60 per cent of African-Caribbean women do not practise breast awareness.
"It is vital that all women are breast aware, but particularly those groups that may be at an increased risk," said nurse consultant Dr Emma Pennery.
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