Although breast cancer deaths have dropped by 44% over the past three decades, the latest findings show that Black, Native American, and underserved women continue to face higher mortality rates—underscoring the urgent need for equitable access to lifesaving care. Breast cancer statistics 2024 . Image Credit: Juice Verve / Shutterstock In their most recent biennial update on American breast cancer statistics published in the journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians , the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports a steady 44% decline in breast cancer mortality compared to 1989, corresponding to approximately 517,900 fewer breast cancer-associated deaths.
However, the bulk of reduced mortality risk applies to White women, with mortality rates among underserved populations, particularly American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) women, remaining largely unchanged. The report further observed an alarming increase in breast cancer incidence by 1% annually between 2012 and 2021. Younger women (<50 years) and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) ethnicities were at the highest risk, with annual increases of 1.
4% and 2.7%, respectively. Triple-negative breast cancer is twice as common among Black women compared to other racial groups, contributing to their significantly higher mortality rates The study highlights early screening and diagnosis as crucial factors in decreasing breast cancer mortality but underscores the need for more uniform and equitable screening and treatment ac.