| Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a traumatic | | | | Studies that have already been published show that |
| experience for any woman. It was no different for | | | | African American women have more aggressive |
| Rosamond Stallings, a 45 year old African American | | | | tumors and they are also less responsive to |
| woman, as the physician broke the bad news to her. | | | | treatment. Socio-economic factors also play a key |
| An immediate mastectomy was advised as six | | | | role in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. |
| malignant tumors were found. Rosamond feared she | | | | An African American woman who is poor or is |
| may not be able to see her children grow up or her | | | | uninsured may not be able to get the diagnosis early |
| grandchild celebrate his birthdays. | | | | enough for the treatment to be effective. For |
| Recent studies reveal a chilling fact that more than | | | | cancer, early detection offers the best chance for |
| 30 percent of breast cancer patients do not receive | | | | cure. Initiating treatment at an advanced stage may |
| comprehensive treatment. African American women | | | | not be fruitful. Since socio-economic factors impede |
| were also found to be 10 percent less likely than | | | | regular screening, diagnosis and prompt treatment of |
| white women to receive the right treatment. A team | | | | the cancer, African American women do poorly when |
| of doctors at the Columbia University Medical Center | | | | cancer survival rates are computed. |
| are looking into why the discrepancy occurs. | | | | |