(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Black women who undergo a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer are significantly more likely to see a return of their cancer 10 years later than white women who have similar treatment.

That’s the key finding from Yale University researchers who followed nearly 2,400 breast cancer patients over a 30 year period. Overall, 17 percent of Black women had a relapse of their cancer compared to 13 percent of white women.

Black women who were younger at the time of the original diagnosis were also found to have larger and more advanced tumors than white women.
 

“This study confirms the aggressive nature of breast cancer in African-American women and emphasizes how important it is for all African-American women to see their healthcare providers regularly and to go for screening mammograms to try to catch any abnormalities early,” study author Meena S. Moran, M.D., was quoted as saying.

She believes the results underscore the need for more study into why black women appear to be more adversely affected by breast cancer as well. “This study also points out the need for further research in evaluating the underlying molecular, genetic and biological differences in breast cancers in African-American women so that we can develop better strategies for helping these women beat their cancer.”

SOURCE: Presented at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology’s 49th Annual Meeting, Oct. 29, 2007