VIDEO: Ensuring patients have same access to treatment, screening key in breast cancer

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It is very important to address health equity in breast cancer. So health equity is when everyone has an equal opportunity to be as healthy as possible, especially when we have great treatment options coming out in breast cancer, which is improving long-term outcomes and increasing the number of survivors.

We have to make sure that all patients, no matter their socioeconomic status or cultural background, they have the same access to these treatment options as well as screening options. Despite some of the advancements in the diagnosis and treatments, unfortunately, disparities still persist. Especially in medically underserved populations, patients may not have the full access to care, whether it be a good facility that's able to provide comprehensive breast cancer care or the lack of insurance.

Especially black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age, and they have a higher mortality rate. But according to recent data, black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. And this gap widens, especially in younger ages. So it is important to make sure that our communities are aware about the risk factors for breast cancer.

There are movements within the primary care physicians standpoint to reduce some of these risk factors to encourage screening for breast cancer. And if there is a mammogram that is concerning for any suspicious findings, appropriate management is done in a timely manner. So that is all very important to improve long-term outcomes for our patients.