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Call to action: breast cancer screening recommendations for Black women

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Abstract

African–American/Black women have more aggressive breast cancer subtypes, are diagnosed at younger ages, and have an increasing incidence rate. These disparities have resulted in Black women continuing to experience the highest mortality rate from breast cancer of any US racial or ethnic group. However, national screening mammography guidelines do not reflect the high-risk status of Black women. Here we review breast cancer screening guidelines and address the lack of inclusion of the specific needs of Black women. In order to equitably care for the health needs of Black women, high-risk designation would improve access to earlier screening and supplemental imaging including breast MRI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, N924 Doan Hall, 410 West 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Bridget A. Oppong, Samilia Obeng-Gyasi & Theresa Relation

  2. Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA

    Lucile Adams-Campbell

Authors
  1. Bridget A. Oppong
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  2. Samilia Obeng-Gyasi
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  3. Theresa Relation
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  4. Lucile Adams-Campbell
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Correspondence to Bridget A. Oppong.

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Oppong, B.A., Obeng-Gyasi, S., Relation, T. et al. Call to action: breast cancer screening recommendations for Black women. Breast Cancer Res Treat 187, 295–297 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06207-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06207-6

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