2 minute read
Discussion
Biological Risk Factors
There is often the belief that there are biological factors, specific to women, that lead to certain outcomes. This perception is perpetuated by the CDC in their description of who is at risk to have breast cancer. In addition to being a woman, the next factor the CDC presents is a woman’s reproductive history [2].
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Additionally, genetic mutations seem to be a critical factor that researchers claim to distinguish Black women’s mortality rate compared to non-Hispanic white women’s mortality rate. In a case-control study of 3,946 Black and 25,287 non-Hispanic White women with breast cancer, there was no difference in the prevalence of germline pathogenic variants [3].
Therefore, the linkage of sex, race, and biology is not a well-founded ground to which the leading cause of cancer death for Black women is solely attributed.
Socioeconomic Risk Factors
Mammography screening for breast cancer proves to be an effective method for diagnosing and treating breast cancer, and seems to be the most efficient when conducted in early stages [7]. Black women are impacted by socioeconomic factors that prevent them from obtaining mammography screening.
They experience factors such as lack of health insurance, lack of a primary care provider to recommend them screenings, transportation, and lack of childcare support that limit their ability to receive a screening [1]. Due to these factors, Black women are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, less likely to receive stage-appropriate treatment, and are more likely to have lower stage-forstage survival rates [8].
Socioeconomic status and racism shape exposure to psychosocial stress, segregation, and physical complications that emanate from the burden of social and environmental disparities.
Behavioral Risk Factors
Black women are confined by their race and gender that are assigned socially meaningful classifications and ultimately influence their behavior.
Black women’s decision to participate in mammography screening is heavily influenced by gender relations and racialization. Some women express embarrassment of exposing their breasts and prefer to conduct selfexamination of the breast as opposed to professional breast examinations [7]. Also, perceptions of race and heterosexism and homophobia cultivate mistrust and skepticism [6].
Black sexual minority women face intersecting issues of racism and homophobia, positioning them for the possibility of greater risk. The behaviors of Black sexual minority women such as nulliparity, lower oral contraceptive use, higher alcohol use, and smoking prevalence contribute to greater risk. They also experience low emotional support and high stress levels during diagnosis and treatment [6].
Their negative experiences within the healthcare system prevent Black women from participating in screening and contribute to their avoidance of healthcare providers altogether.
