Breast cancer and how it affects Hispanic women
Is there any relationship between the rate of breast cancer mortality and ethnicity of the patient? Here we have a study that was presented at a conference, in which Hispanic women may be more likely to die from breast cancer compared with non-Hispanic white women. Discover more about this issue and how you can prevent breast cancer.
Breast cancer is not only more common among women around the world but also, including the most common cause of cancer death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the so-called developed and those in developing countries, reported about 690 thousand new cases per year.
In particular, it is estimated that in 2008, 1.38 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, which is also the fifth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. At one year, about 458 thousand people die of breast cancer.
In the Americas region, it affects women and causes 320 000 deaths of the other 82 000, while in the United States these figures reach the 182 000 and 40 000 women, respectively.
Beyond geography, there seem to be biological conditions that cause breast cancer causes more deaths in one ethnic group than another. What does this mean? That breast cancer does not affect them equally to all women.
A recent study presented at the Breast Cancer Symposium 2011 in San Antonio, Texas, United States, found that Hispanic women are 20 percent greater chance of dying from breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women. According to the researchers suggested this could be due to biological differences in tumors, which would be more resistant to chemotherapy.
To reach these conclusions, the experts noted the risk of breast cancer in Hispanic women and 692 non-Hispanic whites in New Mexico, from 1992 to 1996, while a different study followed 577 women with invasive breast cancer by 2008 to assess differences in survival rates.
Thus, the researchers found that Hispanic women were about 20 percent greater chance of dying from breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women. The possibilities are almost the same level decreased in both groups, when the researchers adjusted the data based on age, disease progression, involvement of lymph nodes and estrogen receptor.
However, as this research was presented at a medical meeting, its data and conclusions should be considered preliminary until publication (when this information is reviewed again by a group of medical colleagues).
Meanwhile, no matter what ethnic group you belong, remember that despite scientific advances in the treatment of breast cancer, the best way to combat it is through early detection and diagnosis.
You yourself can learn to examine yourself at home, to see a specialist as soon as possible if you notice something strange. And of course, be sure to visit your gynecologist (a) for your regular checkups, even if you feel good.
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