Health equity means that everyone has a fair and equal opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Komen is committed to removing racism, bias and other barriers to care for individuals and communities experiencing health disparities. We work to ensure that all people have access to high-quality programs and services to support their breast health.
Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes for Black Women in the U.S. are Unacceptable.
Black women are about 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.
Black women have a lower 5-year breast cancer survival rate compared to white women.
Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, at later stages and with more aggressive types of breast cancer than white women.
These disparities are not only issues of health, but of racial, ethnic and social injustices that contribute to unequal access to affordable, high-quality health care, a lack of cultural competency among clinicians, and so much more.
Susan G. Komen has released landscape analyses, Closing the Breast Cancer Gap: A Roadmap to Save the Lives of Black Women in America, examining 10 metropolitan areas to understand the unique drivers of disparities in each community. The reports identified several trends that exist to varying degrees in each area.
In response to the reports’ findings, Komen is launching “Stand for H.E.R.- a Health Equity Revolution”, a focused initiative to decrease breast cancer disparities in the Black community by 25% beginning in the U.S. metropolitan areas where inequities are greatest. Stand for H.E.R., and the analyses on which it is based, are made possible thanks to the funding of Robert Smith and the Fund II Foundation.
Our goal is to reduce breast cancer mortality rates between Black and White women by 25% in the 10 U.S. metropolitan areas where disparities in late-stage diagnoses and mortality are the greatest.
Read a summary of Closing the Breast Cancer Gap:
A Roadmap to Save the Lives of Black Women in America.
This report details the underlying causes of breast cancer inequities across the breast cancer continuum among Black women in the 10 metropolitan areas with the greatest breast cancer inequities.
Download the Full Landscape Analysis Reports
Dallas
Memphis
Philadelphia
Chicago
St. Louis
Tidewater, VA
Houston
Washington, D.C.
Atlanta
Los Angeles
Complete the form below to download the reports.
Achieving Health Equity
Black women experience higher rates of death from breast cancer due to a combination of factors including barriers to early diagnosis, the aggressive nature of certain breast cancers that are more prevalent in Black women, genetics, lack of high-quality care, discrimination and systemic racism.
Patient Navigation
Increase access to culturally competent patient navigation services in the Black community.
Empower
Empower Black women with knowledge: screening guidelines, family history, knowing their normal, advocating for themselves.
Genetic Counseling and Testing
Increase access to genetic counseling and testing services and culturally competent resources in the Black community.
Financial Assistance
Ease the financial burden of treatment for Black breast cancer patients.
Quality Oncology Practice Initiative
In partnership with American Society of Clinical Oncology, Komen is implementing a structured quality improvement program for oncology practices.
Screening and Diagnostic Services
Provide clinical services for uninsured and underinsured individuals, while maximizing utilization of the existing safety net.
Need Help?
Our breast care helpline offers free support from trained oncology social workers, as well as guidance to local resources.
1-877-465-6636
Mon–Fri 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET
Se habla español.
1-877 GO KOMEN
helpline@komen.org
Thank you to our committed partners
We invite you to join our noteworthy partners who are making changes in health inequity a priority.
