Environmental Risks of Breast Cancer in African American Women

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that African American women, overall, fare worse than white women when it comes to breast cancer. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Minorities and the poor may be diagnosed at later stages of illness.
• African Americans may not have access to quality health care or health insurance.
• Some people may delay treatment because they mistrust doctors and hospitals and are not aware of screening services.
• African American women are often diagnosed with tumors that are more aggressive.
• Workplace exposure to toxic chemicals is proportionally greater for African Americans. In part, what you are exposed to at work can affect your cancer risk.

Although 1 in 8 Americans is African American, 1 in 3 housekeepers and blue collar workers and 1 in 2 workers in sanitation jobs are African American.

In the majority of cases, scientists currently cannot predict who will get breast cancer and who will not. Because it can take a long time for cancer to develop, it is not always possible to have scientific proof in humans showing a causal link between any specific exposure and the development of breast cancer. Some of the food and drinks that you may consume, the chemicals that you are exposed to at work or during your hobbies, and the personal care products that you put on your body can contain chemicals that we know promote cancer and other serious illnesses in humans. These chemicals also cause cancer and disease when tested in animals.