Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women are facing a startling rise in breast cancer rates, dramatically shifting the landscape of racial and ethnic health disparities in the United States. Once considered a low-risk group, AAPI women under 50 have seen a 52% increase in breast cancer diagnoses from 2000 to 2021, surpassing rates for Black and Hispanic women and matching those of white women in this age group.
This trend is particularly alarming as it coincides with stagnant breast cancer death rates among AAPI women, while other racial and ethnic groups have experienced significant declines. Helen Chew, director of the Clinical Breast Cancer Program at UC Davis Health, notes the difficulty in pinpointing exact causes due to the broad diversity within the AAPI community.
Researchers are exploring various factors, including cultural shifts and lifestyle changes. Veronica Setiawan, a professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, suggests that the adoption of Western lifestyles may play a role, citing factors such as earlier puberty, delayed childbearing, and reduced breastfeeding.
The impact on younger women is exemplified by Christina Kashiwada, diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at 36. Her story highlights the shock of early diagnosis and the cultural challenges in discussing health issues within AAPI communities.
This rising trend underscores the urgent need for targeted research and interventions. With only a small fraction of NIH funding devoted to studying cancer among Asian Americans, experts stress the importance of increased focus on AAPI women’s health to address this growing disparity.
See: “Breast Cancer Rises Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Women” (September 4, 2024)
