All Types of Breast Cancer More Deadly for Black Women
Black women are more likely to die from all types of breast cancer compared with white women. The study was published in The Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham analyzed 18 studies published between 2009 and 2022. Overall, the studies investigated 228,885 breast cancer cases, 34,262 of which were diagnosed in Black women.
Compared to white women, Black women were:
50% more likely to die from hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
34% more likely to die from hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer
20% more likely to die from hormone receptor-negative, HER2-positive breast cancer
17% more likely to die from hormone receptor-negative, HER2-negative (triple-negative) breast cancer
“These findings underscore a stark reality in our healthcare system: Black women are facing higher risks of death from breast cancer compared to their white counterparts, across all types of the disease. This disparity isn't just about biology,” co-author Paulette Chandler, MD, MPH, associate epidemiologist in the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said in a statement. “It's a call to action for healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities alike to confront these inequities head-on and strive for meaningful change in breast cancer outcomes.”
Other research shows that social determinants of health also play a large role in breast cancer survival differences between Black and white women. At the most basic level, social determinants of health are non-medical things that influence a person’s health, functioning, and quality of life. For example, researchers group social determinants of health into five broad categories:
economic stability
education access and quality
healthcare access and quality
neighborhood and built environment
social and community relationships
Studies suggest that living in a safe neighborhood, holding a well-paying job, and having strong friendships and ties in the community can lead to better health, while discrimination and job insecurity can negatively affect health.
Kent Hoskins, MD, the Eileen Lindsay Heidrick Professor of Oncology and the associate director of translational research at the University of Illinois Cancer Center at the University of Illinois Chicago, studies disparities in breast cancer mortality. He was not part of the Mass General Brigham study.
“Social conditions put Black women at a disadvantage, whether it's how quickly they get their diagnosis, how quickly they get their surgery, how quickly they get chemotherapy, radiation; those things matter and could really add up to worse outcomes,” he explained. ”It’s unfortunate that women have to advocate for themselves to get timely care, but they do.”
Patient navigation programs that can help people with transportation, making appointments, financial and insurance issues, and child care are also critical to reducing disparities, he noted.
“Many doctors just assume that people show up to the clinic when they need to get care,” he continued. “But there are all kinds of things in people's lives that make that challenging. Patient navigation is a huge benefit because it helps proactively overcome those barriers.”
Listen to the episode of The Breastcancer.org Podcast featuring Dr. Hoskins discussing his research on breast cancer survival disparities.
Breast Cancer Survival Differences in Black and White Women
Mar 16, 2023— Last updated on June 1, 2025 at 2:26 PM