Summary: Breast Cancer 2nd Leading Cause of Death in African-American Women

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among African-American women due to the fact that they generally begin using oral contraceptives earlier and abortions are performed earlier in the woman’s reproductive life.

• According to Life Advocate Magazine, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among African-American women. While the incidence of breast cancer is increasing for both the black and white population, young black women seem to be getting more breast cancer and dying from it more often than young white women. Researchers have identified two major risk factors that have been more prevalent in young black women than in whites: the early use of oral contraceptives and having an abortion that was performed early in the woman’s reproductive life. The study went on to say that these young women would be at an especially high risk for breast cancer since the risk of having an abortion before a full term birth has been noted to carry a 150% increased risk of getting breast cancer.¹

¹Black Women and Breast Cancer, Life Advocate Magazine, May/June 1998, pp. 1-4.