White women tend to get breast cancer at a higher rate than black women do, but according to a new study, it is the black woman that has the higher risk of dying from that diagnosis than her white counterpart's. Researchers will not work to figure out what is the direct cause of the racial disparity and why it seems to be more pronounced in some areas of the nation and not in others. Every year, more than 1700 black women will die from breast cancer. Across the country, those deaths account for more than forty percent of the overall deaths from breast cancer. Using data from two dozen of the largest metropolitan cities in the United States, researchers found that in over half, racial disparity was apparent in terms of breast cancer and risk of dying from it. In New York, for instance, a black woman's risk of dying went up by nearly one quarter while her risk was doubled in Memphis, Tennessee. Other cities where the risk of death was higher for black women included Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Columbus, Milwaukee, Boston and Denver. The other cities involved in the study, including Phoenix, San Antonio, San Jose, San Francisco, Austin, Fort Worth, Baltimore,Detroit Charlotte, El Paso and Seattle had no different in the rate of death or a higher incidence of death based purely on race. Information for one of the cities was not gathered for the test. Critics of the study pointed out that it was too broadly written and did not account for a number of varying factors that could account for the increased death rates. In some of the areas that were studied it might be that there were just more black women to begin with while in others, other factors like lower family income might be the cause and not just race. Breast cancer can be different for everyone, regardless of their race. But, other studies have shown that in the majority of cases, black women tend to get the more aggressive, faster growing strains. Their cancer is also likely to be discovered in later stages which may also directly influence their higher death rates. Experts recommend that all women get yearly mammograms starting at age fifty unless there is a reason that suggests starting earlier. Doctors also suggest monitoring for the other risk factors for developing breast cancer including diet, obesity and diabetes. Family history can also play a role in some types of breast cancer.
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