A new study reveals a rise in late-stage breast cancer diagnoses, with Black women facing considerable increases. 

Published in the journal “Radiology,”  the study analyzed data from 2004 to 2021 and found that advanced breast cancer rates climbed across all racial and ethnic groups. However, Black women were reported to experience late-stage diagnoses 55% more often than white women and faced higher mortality rates from the disease.

The study highlighted that women aged 20 to 39 and those over 75 experienced the sharpest increases in late-stage diagnoses. It also noted that fewer than 70% of eligible women are up to date on mammograms, a key tool for early detection. 

“Black women tend to have more aggressive breast cancers, including a higher rate of triple-negative breast cancers,” Dr. Edward Hendrick, clinical professor of radiology at the University of Colorado, told ABC News. “There may also be differences in how findings are acted upon, reflecting barriers to high-quality care.”

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The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbated the issue. Dr. Hendrick explained, "Volumes at screening sites for the year 2020 were down as much as 90% from 2019 levels,” noting that “these missed screenings contributed to higher rates of advanced breast cancers in 2021 and likely subsequent years.”

Experts say increased screening, expanded healthcare access, and better follow-up care could reverse this alarming trend. Dr. Debra L. Monticciolo, a professor of radiology at Texas A&M University, emphasized the need for early risk assessments starting at age 25.

“Improving equity in care is critical to saving lives,” she stated, calling for better access to early detection and treatment.

Breast cancer accounts for one in three cancer diagnoses among women annually, with over 40,000 American women dying from the disease each year.