Breast cancer can affect all people, regardless of race or gender. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer death for women overall. And for Hispanic women in the U.S., it’s the leading cause of cancer death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There’s no one reason for the disparity. There are no genetic differences. Cultural, economic and other social factors, including access to health care, may influence the lower rate of breast cancer screening and follow-up care by this diverse group of women of Hispanic heritage.
Dr. Carlos Vargas, a Mayo Clinic radiation oncologist, says preventive screening is vital to saving lives.
Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S.
“And that is still true when we talk about Hispanic women, it is the most common cancer in women of Hispanic origin living in the U.S.,” says Vargas.