(HealthDay News) December 10, 2024 A new study shows that breast cancer is more commonly identified in women later in the disease’s progression, which can be fatal.
The results were published in the December 10th issue of the journal Radiology, and they show that this surge in breast cancer in its later stages impacts women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.
“Women with this diagnosis have a much lower survival rate and are much harder to treat,” said Dr. Debra Monticciolo, a researcher and past president of the American College of Radiology.
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Data from the US cancer registry showed that the rate of breast cancer in its fourth stage has risen:
From 2004 to 2021, the yearly rate for women aged 20 to 39 was 2.9%.
For women aged 40–74, the yearly increase was 2.1% from 2004–2012, and 2.7% from 2018–2021.
From 2004–2021, the yearly rate for women 75 and up will be 1.4%.
Stage 4 breast cancer patients had a 31% five-year survival rate, but early-stage patients have a 99% survival rate, according to the study.
“The alarming new finding” is the large rise in metastatic disease at diagnosis across all U.S. women and across all age categories, according to senior researcher Edward Hendrick, a clinical professor of radiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.
In a journal press release, Hendrick made the observation that the problem might be considerably more severe than what is seen in these studies.
Hendrick stated that there was “likely undercounting of advanced disease in 2020” due to the dramatic drop in the number of mammograms performed for breast cancer screening during the epidemic.
“The number of older, minority women being screened saw steep drops during the pandemic,” Monticciolo added. When the health care system is under pressure, this group of people often falls through the cracks.
The risk of advanced breast cancer diagnosis among Native American women climbed at a rate of 3.9% per year from 2004 to 2021, whereas the rate among Asian women increased at a pace of 2.9% per year.
The yearly gains for Black women were 0.86% and for Hispanic women they were 1.6% between 2004 and 2021.
Rates among white women rose 1.7% yearly between 2004 and 2012, but then leveled off.
The data demonstrate that, on average, Black women had a 55% higher risk of advanced breast cancer than white women.
Researchers have said that there are likely several explanations for the delayed detection of breast cancer.
As an example, the researchers pointed out that the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) have different screening recommendations, and there is no structured national program for breast cancer screening.
Researchers expressed concern that women could become so overwhelmed by the information that they stop caring about breast cancer screening altogether.
Monticciolo expressed concern that fewer than half of American women have yearly breast cancer screenings. “Women will be diagnosed at a later stage, and we won’t be able to catch breast cancers in their early stages in a large number of cases.”
Obtaining a mammogram every two years is presently recommended by the USPSTF recommendations for women aged 40 to 74.
The American Cancer Society, on the other hand, suggests that women get mammograms once a year from 45 to 54 years old, and then every other year from 55 and beyond. Breast cancer screening can begin at any time between the ages of 40 and 44 for eligible women.
Even while early diagnosis has obvious benefits, “the USPSTF guidelines leave out women over age 74,” Monticciolo remarked. “And younger women are underscreened, even though they have a higher risk of developing aggressive, fast-growing cancers overall.”
According to experts, women should take a breast cancer risk assessment before they are 25 to have a good idea of their total risk. This recommendation comes from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
In order to have a better grasp on these tendencies, researchers say further research is required, especially among Black women, who are at the most risk.
Further details from USNews