Incidence Rate
The incidence rate for breast cancer among Asian/Pacific Islander women (from 2016-2020) was 106.4 per 100,000 women. The incidence rate for Asian/Pacific Islander was lower than the non-Hispanic white, Black, and Hispanic populations in the U.S.
Moratlity Rates
Mortality rates among Asian/Pacific Islander women were 11.7 per 100,000 women. Both incidence and mortality rates were lower compared with White or Black populations in the U.S. See the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Stat Fact Sheet for more information
Regional Differences
The risk of breast cancer is higher in Chinese-American immigrants than in Chinese living in Asia. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Chinese females living in the US. Factors such as the use of estrogens, nulliparity, fewer births, older age of first birth and obesity may be responsible for rate differences in various countries. See CDC publication: Higher Breast Cancer Risk Among Immigrant Asian American Women Than Among US-Born Asian American Women.
Compared to Other Ethnic Groups
A retrospective study of 499 ethnically diverse women with breast cancer found that in the Asian group, 96% of breast cancer patients who were either nulliparous or had late onset of first childbirth were found to have estrogen positive disease, whereas only 52% of those without these risk factors were found to be estrogen positive. (Menes et al, 2007) These differences were not found among the White, Hispanic or African American women. Chinese women are less likely to receive mammograms than white women. Some barriers may include lack of knowledge, lack of insurance coverage, as well as lack of access. (Lee-Lin et al, 2007).
