Women diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) face challenges due to the aggressive nature of the disease, limited treatment options and poor outcomes. These challenges can become compounded because Black people are disproportionately affected by TNBC, resulting in disparities in outcomes. These inequities tragically lead to a more challenging breast cancer experience and unnecessary deaths. Susan G. Komen partnered with Charles River Associates to publish a report detailing the barriers to the care and treatment of TNBC.
The report calls for multidisciplinary policy approaches to improve outcomes, especially among the Black community. Patients who receive and complete timely, high-quality treatment have better outcomes. We need programs to keep TNBC patients in treatment and address barriers to high-quality care, and policies that address lack of access, ensure timely care and treatment, decrease financial toxicity and support participation in clinical trials. Working to improve health policies in the U.S. will help us address the drivers of inequitable resources and support patient access to timely treatment and high-quality care.
Komen works to educate people about health policy issues so they are empowered to become forceful advocates for themselves and their community, and then unites their collective voices for maximum impact. Our advocacy work focuses on accelerating research, ensuring access to affordable, high-quality care for all patients, and alleviating the patient burden through robust policies that recognize both the financial toxicity of treating breast cancer and the systemic hurdles patients must pass through to access their care.
