Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a traumatic experience for any woman. It was no different for Rosamond Stallings, a 45 year old African American woman, as the physician broke the bad news to her. An immediate mastectomy was advised as six malignant tumors were found. Rosamond feared she may not be able to see her children grow up or her grandchild celebrate his birthdays. Recent studies reveal a chilling fact that more than 30 percent of breast cancer patients do not receive comprehensive treatment. African American women were also found to be 10 percent less likely than white women to receive the right treatment. A team of doctors at the Columbia University Medical Center are looking into why the discrepancy occurs. Studies that have already been published show that African American women have more aggressive tumors and they are also less responsive to treatment. Socio-economic factors also play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. An African American woman who is poor or is uninsured may not be able to get the diagnosis early enough for the treatment to be effective. For cancer, early detection offers the best chance for cure. Initiating treatment at an advanced stage may not be fruitful. Since socio-economic factors impede regular screening, diagnosis and prompt treatment of the cancer, African American women do poorly when cancer survival rates are computed. The lack of referrals to medical oncologists, miscommunication and cultural differences between patients and physicians are also being looked at as part of the study. There are also variations in the metabolism of chemotherapy and the physical tolerance of therapy. Since African American women have the highest rate of Breast Cancer than any other group of women under the age of fifty, physicians are of the opinion that instead of waiting till forty years of age to initiate the routine mammograms, African American women should start earlier. A mammogram will detect any abnormality and routine screening will identify any signs that should be of concern early enough to start immediate treatment and complete cure of the disease. The healthcare system also needs to focus on developing and perfecting other means of cancer detection that are more dependable than mammograms. Awareness about breast cancer is also important in combating this disease. Women have to proactively understand their family history of cancer and can opt for genetic testing and counseling if they are at high risk. Better awareness, regular screening and early detection of breast cancer can ensure that this disease does not become fatal.
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