At least partially.  Doctors have known for a long time that breast cancer statistically has proven to be a more deadly disease for black women than for women of other races.  They just were not 100% sure on why that was, whether it was the quality of health care african american women received was different, their genetic makeup made for more agressive cancers, or any other possible explanation for the discrepancy.

Now, they do think they have the answer.  Black women actually have a different type of breast cancer more often, one that is agressive and hormonally based and therefore requires a hormonal treatment.  The hormone inhibiting treatments that are administered to black women have proven in tests to not do the trick, and for some reason they are more genetically immune to these popular therapies.

This may mean that they have to either come up with new and better treatments specifically targeted to african american women, or that they need to address their health care, both preventive, and cancer treatment in a totally different way, diagnoses and all.  They are making great strides in breast cancer recently, and helping to ensure that this disease is not more deadly to one segment of the population is a surefire way to help all women as well, as it will inevitably also lead to further discoveries about the disease which claims so many women. 

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Posted in Breast Cancer Prevention by Breast News Girl No Comments Yet