Breast cancer and African-American women

A new study suggests a possible biological explanation for why breast cancer is more deadly for black women. The study says black women are more likely to have tumors that won't respond to a hormone-based treatment. It accounts for about 39 percent of invasive tumors that are resistant to the treatment in black women versus 22 percent in white women. The study's lead author says other tools like chemotherapy, radiation and targeted biological drugs are more important for women with the stubborn tumors, and doctors should consider this when they evaluate black women with breast cancer. Traditionally, the higher rate of death has been blamed on social factors, such as black women getting fewer mammograms and less aggressive treatment.