While breast cancer is a less common disease in African Americans in the United States than in Caucasians, the mortality rate is higher in African Americans and cancer tends to occur at a younger age. It has been known for some time that breast cancer in African Americans presents at a higher stage. This has been felt to be due to a lack of access to screening and medical care. Overall, we wish to examine the efficacy of screening in this population and the characteristics of breast cancer. There is the possibility that in addition to under-utilization of screening, the breast cancer in African Americans is a more aggressive cancer that may not be as amenable to early detection as Caucasian breast cancer. In order to study this, we will be looking at the records of patients who have had breast cancer and compare African American and Caucasians in terms of stage at diagnosis, biologic characteristics, and mammographic features such as calcifications, breast density, etc. The ultimate goal will be to determine whether there are differences in the efficacy of screening between these two populations, to determine if there are biologic differences between the cancers in these populations, and to develop means to identify these cancers at an earlier stage and potentially increase the cure rate for these cancers.

If you would like additional information on the Breast/Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Risk Assessment Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, please contact:
Connie Roche at 617-726-4919

Kevin S. Hughes, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Surgical Director, Breast Screening
Clinical Co-Director, Breast/Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Risk Assessment Program
Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Connie A. Roche, MSN, RN, CS
Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Nurse Practitioner, Avon Foundation Comprehensive Breast Evaluation Center
Nurse Practitioner, Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics and Risk Assessment Program