Black women experience higher rates of death from breast cancer due to a combination of factors, including barriers to early diagnosis and high-quality treatment, the aggressive nature of certain breast cancers diagnosed more often in Black women, lack of high-quality care, genetics, discrimination and systemic racism.
Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes for Black Women in the U.S. are Unacceptable.
Black women are about 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.
Black women have a lower 5-year relative breast cancer survival rate compared to white women.
Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, at later stages and with more aggressive types of breast cancer than white women.
Komen’s Approach to Achieving Health Equity in the Black Community
Patient Navigation
Increase access to culturally competent services in the Black community.
Empower
Provide Black women with knowledge: screening guidelines, family history, and assistance in knowing what’s normal for them and how to advocate for themselves.
Genetic Counseling and Testing
Increase access to genetic counseling and testing services and culturally competent resources in the Black community.
Financial Assistance
Ease the financial burden of treatment for Black breast cancer patients.
Quality Oncology Practice Initiative
In partnership with American Society of Clinical Oncology, Komen is implementing a quality improvement program for oncology practices.
Screening and Diagnostic Services
Provide clinical services for the uninsured and underinsured, while increasing use of the existing safety net of services.
Susan G. Komen has released landscape analyses, Closing the Breast Cancer Gap: A Roadmap to Save the Lives of Black Women in America, examining 10 metropolitan areas to understand the unique drivers of disparities in each community. The reports identified several trends that exist to varying degrees in each area.
In response to the report’s findings, Komen is launching “Stand for H.E.R.- a Health Equity Revolution,” a focused initiative to decrease breast cancer disparities in the Black community by 25% beginning in the U.S. metropolitan areas where inequities are greatest. Stand for H.E.R., and the analyses on which it is based, are made possible thanks to the funding of Robert Smith and the Fund II Foundation.
Read a summary of Closing the Breast Cancer Gap:
A Roadmap to Save the Lives of Black Women in America.
This report details the underlying causes of breast cancer inequities across the breast cancer continuum among Black women in the 10 metropolitan areas with the worst breast cancer inequities.
Download the Full Landscape Analysis Reports
Complete the form below to download the full report.
Stand For H.E.R. – A Health Equity Revolution Breast Cancer Impact Report 2023
Patient Navigation Training Program
Patient navigation aims to eliminate barriers to quality care by helping patients effectively navigate a fragmented healthcare system. Komen’s free, 10-week online training program is open for Black individuals who are either interested in becoming or already are working in any patient-facing role within the 10 metro areas of the Stand for H.E.R. Initiative. The program features courses such as Navigating Black Patients through Racism and Bias in Health Care. Download this resource to learn more.
Get trained and become a part of this community to help strengthen patient navigation services available to Black women and to support the diversification of the patient navigation workforce.
Patient Navigation Training Program
Patient navigation aims to eliminate barriers to quality care by helping patients effectively navigate a fragmented healthcare system. Komen’s free, 10-week online training program is open for Black individuals who are either interested in becoming or already are working in any patient-facing role within the 10 metro areas of the Stand for H.E.R. Initiative. The program features courses such as Navigating Black Patients through Racism and Bias in Health Care. Download this resource to learn more.
Get trained and become a part of this community to help strengthen patient navigation services available to Black women and to support the diversification of the patient navigation workforce.
Sign up to receive periodic updates about Komen’s breast health equity work.
Know Your History, Know Your Risk
Explore resources to help you understand your risk of breast cancer. We have valuable information to help you talk with your doctor about developing a personal breast cancer screening plan and deciding if genetic testing is right for you.
Health Equity for All
Everyone is at risk of breast cancer, but some of us are at higher risk than others. That’s why Komen is working to eliminate barriers to care for individuals and communities experiencing breast health inequities now and in the future.
Need Help?
Our breast care helpline offers free support and information about breast health, breast cancer, local and national resources and clinical trials from trained oncology social workers and specialists.
1-877-465-6636
Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET and Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET
Se habla español.
Help discover cures to breast cancer, faster.
Your breast cancer information is as unique as you are. When combined with thousands of other ShareForCures members, you provide scientists with a more diverse set of data to make new discoveries, faster.
1-877 GO KOMEN
helpline@komen.org
Thank you to our committed partners
We invite you to join our noteworthy partners who are making changes in health inequity a priority.
