Breast Cancer Disparities between African American and White Women in Wisconsin

According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer health disparities are “adverse differences in cancer incidence (new cases), cancer prevalence (all existing cases), morbidity (cancer-related health complications), cancer mortality (deaths), cancer survivorship, and burden of cancer or related health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States.”1 These disparities arise from a complex interaction of population factors, such as race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health behaviors, health status, and health insurance coverage. For instance, an African American woman living in a lowincome suburban area is more likely to experience structural barriers, such as lack of reliable transportation, resulting in limited health care system access. Limited access to health care services contributes to poor chronic disease management, thereby decreasing one’s likelihood of following breast cancer screening recommendations necessary for early breast cancer detection and prevention.