Overview:
Breast cancer mortality rates are higher among Native women. Early screening is key to saving lives.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer found in American Indian and Alaska Native women.
While Native women are diagnosed with breast cancer less frequently than white women, they die from the disease at higher rates, reflecting a pattern across Indian Country in which restricted resources drive health disparities.
Researchers say that mortality rates can be directly tied to low cancer screening rates in Native communities. Data from the American Cancer Society showed that 31% of Native women over the age of 40 received a mammogram in 2024 compared to 51% of white women.
While the overall breast cancer mortality rate has fallen by 44% in the last three decades, it remains largely unchanged for Native women. Despite this, there has been little to no breast cancer research conducted on Native populations. In the largest national breast cancer genomic database, just 1 of 1,098 cases was Native American.
A study published earlier this year showed that breast cancer tumors in Native women may respond differently to treatment than in white women.
To lower your risk of developing breast cancer, the American Indian Cancer Foundation recommends getting screened based on your family history, personal history, breast density, and risk. While most mammograms begin at age 40, women with immediate family members who have had breast cancer can begin as early as age 25. Women age 40-74 should get screened every two years.
For more information on breast cancer in Native communities, visit https://americanindiancancer.org/breast-cancer/.
