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Report: Breast Cancer Death Rate Declines, Racial Disparity In Outcomes Remains

Jen Brodeur, right, Tufts Medical Center mammographer prepares Yan Ling Zhong of Boston for a digital mammogram at the CAP See, Test and Treat event. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/AP Images for College of American Pathologists/See, Test and Treat)

report from the American Cancer Society shows that the breast cancer death rate has fallen 39 percent since 1989.

Dr. Alexandria Thomas of Wake Forest Baptist says, “We have seen newer and better therapies become available, and also newer and better imaging techniques to diagnose breast cancer earlier, to diagnose recurrences earlier, and to be able to offer therapies to women that are highly effective.” 

But, there's still a racial disparity in outcomes. In all U.S. states, breast cancer death rates are higher in non-Hispanic black women than in non-Hispanic white women. According to the American Cancer Society, in North Carolina almost 50 percent more black women will die from the disease than their white peers.   

Thomas says part of the problem is uneven access to care.

“If we can overcome care delivery problems," she says, "we really can have even bigger improvements in breast cancer outcomes.”

Other factors in the disparity could include time of diagnosis and type of breast cancer.

Bethany joined the staff of WFDD in the fall of 2012. She received her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Wake Forest University and focused on Anglo-Irish writing. Between undergraduate studies and graduate school, Bethany served as the intern to Talk of the Nation at NPR in D.C., participating in live NPR Election Night Coverage, Presidential debate broadcasts, regular Talk of the Nation shows, and helping to plan the inaugural broadcast of ‘Talk of the World.' She enjoys engaging with her interests in books, politics, and art in the interdisciplinary world of public radio. Before becoming Assistant News Director, Bethany was a reporter and Associate Producer for WFDD's Triad Arts and Triad Arts Weekend. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bethany enjoys calling the Piedmont home.

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