Pattern of breast cancer among white-American, African-American, and nonimmigrant west-African women.
PDF (788K)
Journal: 1998/November - Journal of the National Medical Association
ISSN: 0027-9684
PUBMED: 9770955
Abstract:
This study reviews the current understanding of the pattern of breast cancer among whites, African Americans, and West Africans who have never immigrated to the US to find better ways of improving the prevention, early detection, and care of breast cancer world-wide. In the United States, the behavior pattern of breast cancer in African-American women differs from that of white women. Among the three populations, breast cancer appears to be least common in nonimmigrant West-African women. The peak incidence in African Americans and West Africans occurs around the premenopausal period while it occurs postmenopausal period in whites. Also, unlike white women, West-African and African-American women present late for treatment with a greater cancer burden and consequently lower survival rates. The predominant histological type is infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the three groups but the highest percentage (33%) of infiltrating poorly differentiated anaplastic carcinoma occurs in West Africans. Menstrual and obstetric history, obesity, and high body mass index status appear to be greater specific risk factors among African Americans than among West Africans. African Americans and West Africans have three "Ls" in common: late stage in seeking treatment, lower age at peak incidence with severe tumor burden, and consequently lower survival rates. There is a need for more detailed population-based research at molecular levels to elucidate the basis for some of these features.
Open in
PUBMED | PMC | Google Scholar | Wikipedia
Relations:
Content
Citations
(10)
References
(29)
Diseases
(1)
Conditions
(1)
Organisms
(1)
Processes
(2)
Affiliates
(1)
Similar articles
Articles by the same authors
Discussion board
J Natl Med Assoc 90(9): 547-551
PMID: 9770955

Pattern of breast cancer among white-American, African-American, and nonimmigrant west-African women.

Abstract

This study reviews the current understanding of the pattern of breast cancer among whites, African Americans, and West Africans who have never immigrated to the US to find better ways of improving the prevention, early detection, and care of breast cancer world-wide. In the United States, the behavior pattern of breast cancer in African-American women differs from that of white women. Among the three populations, breast cancer appears to be least common in nonimmigrant West-African women. The peak incidence in African Americans and West Africans occurs around the premenopausal period while it occurs postmenopausal period in whites. Also, unlike white women, West-African and African-American women present late for treatment with a greater cancer burden and consequently lower survival rates. The predominant histological type is infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the three groups but the highest percentage (33%) of infiltrating poorly differentiated anaplastic carcinoma occurs in West Africans. Menstrual and obstetric history, obesity, and high body mass index status appear to be greater specific risk factors among African Americans than among West Africans. African Americans and West Africans have three "Ls" in common: late stage in seeking treatment, lower age at peak incidence with severe tumor burden, and consequently lower survival rates. There is a need for more detailed population-based research at molecular levels to elucidate the basis for some of these features.

Full text

Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. Get a printable copy (PDF file) of the complete article (788K), or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Links to PubMed are also available for Selected References.
icon of scanned page 547
547
icon of scanned page 548
548
icon of scanned page 549
549
icon of scanned page 550
550
icon of scanned page 551
551

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
  • Harris JR, Lippman ME, Veronesi U, Willett W. Breast cancer (1) N Engl J Med. 1992 Jul 30;327(5):319–328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Dupont WD, Page DL. Risk factors for breast cancer in women with proliferative breast disease. N Engl J Med. 1985 Jan 17;312(3):146–151. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Anderson DE, Badzioch MD. Risk of familial breast cancer. Cancer. 1985 Jul 15;56(2):383–387. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Schatzkin A, Palmer JR, Rosenberg L, Helmrich SP, Miller DR, Kaufman DW, Lesko SM, Shapiro S. Risk factors for breast cancer in black women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1987 Feb;78(2):213–217. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Mayberry RM, Stoddard-Wright C. Breast cancer risk factors among black women and white women: similarities and differences. Am J Epidemiol. 1992 Dec 15;136(12):1445–1456. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Jackson FL. Race and ethnicity as biological constructs. Ethn Dis. 1992 Spring;2(2):120–125. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Cooper R. A note on the biologic concept of race and its application in epidemiologic research. Am Heart J. 1984 Sep;108(3 Pt 2):715–722. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Kelsey JL. A review of the epidemiology of human breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev. 1979;1:74–109. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Chen F, Trapido EJ, Davis K. Differences in stage at presentation of breast and gynecologic cancers among whites, blacks, and Hispanics. Cancer. 1994 Jun 1;73(11):2838–2842. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Kumanyika S. Obesity in black women. Epidemiol Rev. 1987;9:31–50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Hennekens CH, Speizer FE, Lipnick RJ, Rosner B, Bain C, Belanger C, Stampfer MJ, Willett W, Peto R. A case-control study of oral contraceptive use and breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1984 Jan;72(1):39–42. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Janerich DT, Hoff MB. Evidence for a crossover in breast cancer risk factors. Am J Epidemiol. 1982 Nov;116(5):737–742. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Love RR, Evans AM, Josten DM. The accuracy of patient reports of a family history of cancer. J Chronic Dis. 1985;38(4):289–293. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Mishell DR., Jr Contraception. N Engl J Med. 1989 Mar 23;320(12):777–787. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Howe HL, Senie RT, Bzduch H, Herzfeld P. Early abortion and breast cancer risk among women under age 40. Int J Epidemiol. 1989 Jun;18(2):300–304. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Bruzzi P, Negri E, La Vecchia C, Decarli A, Palli D, Parazzini F, Del Turco MR. Short term increase in risk of breast cancer after full term pregnancy. BMJ. 1988 Oct 29;297(6656):1096–1098.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Ron E, Lubin F, Wax Y. Re: "Evidence for a crossover in breast cancer risk factors". Am J Epidemiol. 1984 Jan;119(1):139–141. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • PEARSON JB. CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST IN NIGERIA. A REVIEW OF 100 PATIENTS. Br J Cancer. 1963 Dec;17:559–565.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • HICKEY BB. Malignant epithelial tumours in the Sudanese. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1959 May;24(5):303–322.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • DAVIES JN, WILSON BA. Cancer in Kampala, 1952-1953. East Afr Med J. 1954 Sep;31(9):395–416. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Edington GM, Maclean CM. A cancer rate survey in Ibadan, Western Nigeria, 1960-63. Br J Cancer. 1965 Sep;19(3):470–481.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Ihekwaba FN. Breast cancer in Nigerian women. Br J Surg. 1992 Aug;79(8):771–775. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Blumberg L. Age of occurrence of breast cancer in black women. S Afr Med J. 1993 Sep;83(9):691–692. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Visvanathan R. Breast cancer in Nigerian women. Br J Surg. 1993 Jan;80(1):126–126. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Ijaduola GT. Uvulectomy in Nigeria. J Laryngol Otol. 1981 Nov;95(11):1127–1133. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Smith EB. Primary bilateral breast cancer. J Natl Med Assoc. 1986 Nov;78(11):1069–1072.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Coates RJ, Bransfield DD, Wesley M, Hankey B, Eley JW, Greenberg RS, Flanders D, Hunter CP, Edwards BK, Forman M, et al. Differences between black and white women with breast cancer in time from symptom recognition to medical consultation. Black/White Cancer Survival Study Group. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992 Jun 17;84(12):938–950. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Gao Q, Neuhausen S, Cummings S, Luce M, Olopade OI. Recurrent germ-line BRCA1 mutations in extended African American families with early-onset breast cancer. Am J Hum Genet. 1997 May;60(5):1233–1236.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • Easton DF, Steele L, Fields P, Ormiston W, Averill D, Daly PA, McManus R, Neuhausen SL, Ford D, Wooster R, et al. Cancer risks in two large breast cancer families linked to BRCA2 on chromosome 13q12-13. Am J Hum Genet. 1997 Jul;61(1):120–128.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Department of Head and Neck Oncology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Department of Head and Neck Oncology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Copyright notice
Abstract
This study reviews the current understanding of the pattern of breast cancer among whites, African Americans, and West Africans who have never immigrated to the US to find better ways of improving the prevention, early detection, and care of breast cancer world-wide. In the United States, the behavior pattern of breast cancer in African-American women differs from that of white women. Among the three populations, breast cancer appears to be least common in nonimmigrant West-African women. The peak incidence in African Americans and West Africans occurs around the premenopausal period while it occurs postmenopausal period in whites. Also, unlike white women, West-African and African-American women present late for treatment with a greater cancer burden and consequently lower survival rates. The predominant histological type is infiltrating ductal carcinoma in the three groups but the highest percentage (33%) of infiltrating poorly differentiated anaplastic carcinoma occurs in West Africans. Menstrual and obstetric history, obesity, and high body mass index status appear to be greater specific risk factors among African Americans than among West Africans. African Americans and West Africans have three "Ls" in common: late stage in seeking treatment, lower age at peak incidence with severe tumor burden, and consequently lower survival rates. There is a need for more detailed population-based research at molecular levels to elucidate the basis for some of these features.
Collaboration tool especially designed for Life Science professionals.Drag-and-drop any entity to your messages.