In an insightful conversation about breast cancer screening among Asian American women, we’re faced with some alarming statistics that highlight an increasing trend in breast cancer rates for this demographic. Historically, the incidence of breast cancer among Asian American women ranked second to last among all ethnic groups in the U.S. However, recent studies show that women under 50 years old in this group now have rates of breast cancer that are on par with white women.
Chien-Chi Huang, a 59-year-old woman who experienced the loss of her mother to breast cancer at the age of 40, shared her personal journey. “I had my first mammogram, but at that time, no tumors were detected,” Huang recounted. Shortly after, she noticed a lump in her armpit, and after a four-month delay, she was diagnosed with the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). “In our Asian community, there’s often no awareness of preventive measures for breast cancer. We tend to seek medical help only after becoming ill,” she added.
According to a report from NBC News, the incidence of breast cancer among Asian American women has increased significantly. In 2000, they had one of the lowest rates of breast cancer, but by today, the American Cancer Society has documented a 50% surge in rates among women under 50 since then. Currently, the incidence stands at approximately 86 cases per 100,000 individuals, placing them alongside white women at the highest risk levels.
Dr. Helen Chew, the clinical breast cancer program director at UC Davis Health, stated, “As women age, the likelihood of developing breast cancer increases, and it is particularly shocking to see this rise among younger women.” The alarming increase can be attributed to various factors such as economic development, delayed pregnancies, Western lifestyle changes, and dietary habits that include high trans fat and alcohol consumption, in addition to hormone treatments. Epidemiologist Scarlett Lin Gomez from UCSF remarked, “With Westernization and industrialization, breast cancer risk factors have become more prevalent.”
Additionally, rising obesity rates among young Asian women, increased access to cancer screening, and exposure to chemicals like PFAS are considered early indicators of developing cancer. Research indicates that Asian women are more susceptible to aggressive breast cancer triggered by the HER2/neu protein compared to women from other racial backgrounds.
While breast cancer death rates for women across all ethnic groups have declined by 30% nationwide, the mortality rate for Asian women under 50 has remained stagnant over the past two decades. The low screening rates and the stigma associated with cancer in the Asian community contribute to a delay in seeking treatment, which may explain the steadiness rather than a decline in mortality rates.
Dr. Chew emphasizes the necessity of categorizing patients more specifically, as opposed to merely placing them in the “Asian American” category. She argues, “Southeast Asian immigrants and generations-long Japanese Americans are distinct groups and should be treated as such.”
