Breast Cancer Disparities and Their Drivers in the United States: A 2024 Update [ID 843]

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related death and the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. Despite advancements in treatment and screening, significant disparities in breast cancer outcomes persist across racial and socioeconomic groups. The purpose of this review is to provide the most up-to-date analysis as of 2024 on the contributing factors to these disparities and explore strategies to address them. METHODS: This review utilized the most recent data from databases such as the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and the National Cancer Database. A comprehensive review of literature and statistical reports from 2010 to 2024 was conducted, ensuring the inclusion of the most current information available. RESULTS: The review highlights persistent disparities in breast cancer incidence, mortality, and treatment outcomes, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities. Non-Hispanic Black women were found to have a 36% higher mortality rate compared to non-Hispanic White women, despite lower incidence rates. Screening rates among African American and Hispanic women remain significantly lower, largely due to socioeconomic barriers such as limited health care access and insurance coverage. CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: This review emphasizes the most recent data on breast cancer disparities, confirming that socioeconomic, biological, and health care access factors continue to drive these inequities. Addressing these disparities will require comprehensive interventions, including expanded access to screening, policy reform, and enhanced clinical awareness of implicit bias. Timely interventions are essential to improving breast cancer outcomes for underserved populations.