Feminist Peace Network

A new report from the American Cancer Society has a bevy of interesting stats about breast  cancer, mostly encouraging, but it certainly raises some questions:

“The death rate from breast cancer continues to drop steadily by about 2 percent a year, but black women are not seeing the same benefits as whites, the American Cancer Society said on Tuesday.

The group found that during 2001 through 2004, breast cancer diagnoses fell by an average of 3.7 percent a year — in part because women stopped taking hormone replacement therapy and in part because fewer got mammograms and therefore were not diagnosed.

Death rates fell by 2 percent during that period.

For women over the age of 50, breast cancer rates fell more sharply, by 4.8 percent a year since 2001, the group said. Breast cancer rates were stable among black women and younger women, the group said.”

So–really good news if you happen to be a white woman over the age of 50.  Not so hot if you happen to be black.  Interesting note that death rates still fell despite  women getting fewer mammograms, presumably because they can’t afford them.  Economic realities no doubt play a role in the stats being worse for black women who are not only less able to pay for mammograms but also for basic healthcare.

As the report makes clear, a significant chunk of the improved stats is due to women quitting hormone replacement therapy.  Here’s hoping one major mama of a class action suit is soon in the offing.

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