By the time you’re done reading this, another woman in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. It happens every 2 minutes.
Paula Schneider
President & CEO, Susan G. Komen
While advancements in breast cancer care have resulted in a 43% decrease in breast cancer death rates in the last three decades, diagnoses are on the rise — especially in younger women. Despite patients having a greater variety of treatment options than ever before, still, every 12 minutes, a woman dies from the disease in the United States.
It’s been 17 years since I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and endured a treatment no longer available due to how strenuous it was. I was lucky to have access to great doctors and care, but that’s not the reality for most others.
We’re often grounded by the fact that one-third of breast cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented if everyone had the same access to high-quality care and modern treatments. Additionally, factors that may seem so simple to some — like lack of transportation, lack of childcare, food insecurity, housing instability, and navigating our complex health system — often stand in the way of more than 10,000 lives saved each year.
These barriers are just one example of why breast cancer education is so important outside the pink walls of October.
Achieving health equity
Advocates and healthcare professionals alike must identify the barriers in our patient care system to ensure everyone benefits from advancements — not just those with good health insurance and access to academic medical centers.
For example, patient navigators have been game-changers for the breast cancer community. These professionals provide patients with education and access to resources that address social determinants of health. They empower patients to make more informed decisions.
Of course, it’s also so important that the navigation workforce continues to train more culturally responsive navigators as the demand for the profession grows to meet patient needs, especially as Black women in the United States are still 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Hispanic and Latina women are also more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage than white women.
Innovative medicine shouldn’t be a privilege
As one of today’s greatest advances, precision medicine is a privilege — but we need it to be the standard. While it’s exciting to see innovations in breast cancer technology and research unfold, the most rewarding outcome is witnessing how they save lives. We must focus on the person first, not just their breast cancer. Previous medical histories and social determinants of health are crucial factors in a person’s breast cancer experience.
Similarly, with the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI), we must also ensure the utilization of AI doesn’t inadvertently deepen disparities or create additional barriers to high-quality care due to increased costs, limited availability, lack of regulation and standardization, or a design that doesn’t help all people.
The old proverb still rings true: with great power comes great responsibility.
Power and responsibility
Despite all the advances in technology and research, early detection is still key for increased survival rates, which means the yearly mammogram remains the gold standard. What’s important for women of all ages, even far before 40, is to know your normal. Depending on your family history and unique health background, you may benefit from mammograms earlier. Much like we saw Olivia Munn bravely do last year, knowing your risk and advocating for yourself can truly save your life.
Sadly, we are far behind in understanding women’s health due to a lack of attention and funding. In fact, before 1993, women were rarely included in clinical trials. We must make up for lost time.
We now have both the power and responsibility to help create a world without breast cancer, and it’s a mission that we at Susan G. Komen take to heart every day — but we can’t do it alone.
While October highlights the progress we’ve made and raises awareness about breast cancer, we must honor and address the unique experiences of women every day with purpose and determination. Only then can we truly end this disease.
