Black women more at risk of aggressive breast cancer, study shows

New research shows black women may be more at risk of developing a certain type of aggressive breast cancer.

The study in the journal Breast Cancer Research found that even with taking lifestyle, age and weight into consideration, black women face three times the danger of developing a triple negative tumour compared to women of other racial backgrounds.

Experts claim while the overall incidence of breast cancer is lower in black women compared to white, when the former does contract the disease it tends to be more advanced when diagnosed with a less favourable outcome.

Today’s study confirmed the odds of having a triple negative tumour were three times higher for black women than for females of other races.

Dr Carol Rosenberg from Boston University School of Medicine said: “Previously, it was known that pre-menopausal black women had more triple negative tumours.

“What we found that was new was that these tumours were just as common in black women diagnosed before or after age 50, and in those who were or were not obese.”