Breast cancer is surging among Asian American women — and scientists don’t know why
A UCSF-led study reveals a significant increase in invasive breast cancer rates among Asian American women, particularly those under 50. The research highlights that these trends are not explained by screening habits and notes a concerning rise in aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer.
Why it matters
Identifying these health disparities is essential for developing targeted public health interventions and understanding the underlying causes of cancer trends in specific ethnic groups.
A new UC San Francisco-led study has identified a sharp increase in invasive breast cancer among Asian American women over the past two decades.
Breast cancer rates have climbed across nearly every Asian American ethnic group at a pace that exceeds increases seen in any other U.S. ethnic group. The trend is particularly pronounced among women under 50 and among those diagnosed with advanced disease or certain aggressive forms of breast cancer.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open , found that breast cancer incidence rose by more than 3% annually in nearly every Asian American ethnic group examined. The increases were even greater among Chinese and Vietnamese women.
Native Hawaiian women already have some of the highest breast cancer rates among women in the United States. However, their rates increased by about 1% per year, substantially less than the increases observed among Asian American groups.
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