Chien-Chi Huang’s breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 40 sparked her advocacy for early screening among Asian American women. Statistics show that breast cancer incidence among Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50 has increased by 50% since 2000, with AAPI women now having the second-highest rate of breast cancer alongside white women. Factors contributing to this rise include westernization, economic development, and lifestyle choices not endemic to Asia.
Experts point out that Asian women, like Huang, have a higher prevalence of dense breasts, making it harder to detect cancer. Immigrant Asian women in the U.S. have a higher risk of breast cancer due to factors such as delayed childbearing, a Western diet, alcohol consumption, and hormone therapy use.
While most Asian American women have lower mortality rates from breast cancer compared to white women, there are disparities among different ethnic groups. Korean, Chinese, Filipina, and South Asian American women face the highest risk, while mortality rates for Filipina and Pacific Islander women are 30% higher. Socioeconomic status and education level play a role in these disparities.
Studies at UCSF suggest that rising obesity rates, chemical exposures, and unique risk factors may contribute to the increase in breast cancer among younger Asian American women. However, the mortality rate for Asian American women under 50 has not decreased in the past two decades, indicating the need for more research and targeted interventions to address this issue. Disaggregating data based on different ethnic subgroups is crucial to understanding the drivers behind the rising breast cancer incidence among Asian women.
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