Black women die more often because of breast cancer – so why is the presence of screening still a problem?

Breast cancer is The most common cancer diagnosed in women around the world. But partly thanks to screening programs over 75% of people diagnosed with breast cancer in England are now experiencing Ten years or more.

However complex combination With Racial differences In healthcare quality, they receive social factors such as poverty and differences in cancer biology, black women in Great Britain are more likely to die from illness than women from other ethnic groups.

Breast examination It improves breast cancer survival Identifying cancer At an earlier stage When it is easier to treat. In Great Britain, the breast examination with mammography is Offered free of charge to women who are aged 50 to 71 by National Health Service Breasteing program.

Studies show that black women in Great Britain are less likely to take part in breast screening programs, but they are more likely to die from the disease after slow diagnosis. So why are black women less often attending thoracic tests, if it can aid them save their lives?

I was part of this team proven All studies in which barriers to breast cancer screening were studied, which are experienced by black women in Great Britain.

In the review, he showed significant gaps in existing tests of breast cancer in the black community and barriers to prevent black African and black Caribbean women in Great Britain in potentially saving life of breast cancer research. We checked almost 1000 articles, but only eight articles included black women.

The review showed that earlier studies were often grouped by black women from various environments, including black African and black Caribbean, masking crucial cultural nuances and various experiences. In addition, restricted research focused primarily on women who either attend shows or do not qualify with a view of the key perspectives of those who are qualified but do not participate.

As part of our research, we also wanted to identify all effective interventions to improve the collection of screening in black women – but we did not find interventions that only targeted black women.

Our study showed that the barriers were physical, emotional, cultural and healthcare. Black women who believed that breast cancer could be treated if they caught early, they participate more often in screening. Some of the key barriers, however, seem to apply to women from all ethnic groups. For example, Fear of a positive diagnosis.

Cancer diagnosis is often perceived as a death sentence But we found that black women in particular, they discuss less often breast cancer. Our review showed that fear, mark and negative perception of cancer contributed to a sturdy culture of silence, which hindered response to screening.

Our review also showed that many black women who participated in research brought great value to family relationships. For example, some black African women were worried that if they were diagnosed and treated because of breast cancer, their partner may leave them or that it would negatively affect their marriage perspectives, because potential partners may think that cancer runs in their family.

Barriers from the healthcare structure were also marked. Black women reported difficulties in participating in visits to research during working hours, and the lack of evening or weekend visits prevented some women from full -time employment on research.

The review showed that the knowledge and awareness of breast cancer may be low, especially among some women born outside the UK, some of which thought that they were not susceptible to breast cancer, because they do not know it in their born country. This shows the need for more culturally sensitive screening for breast cancer screening in black community.

To reduce health differences, and then enhance the awareness of screening for breast cancer, we recommend adapted communities health programs and information initiatives that resonate with the people they direct.