Disparities Among Underserved Populations:

Disparities Among Underserved Populations:

1. Black Women:
   • Higher mortality rate despite lower incidence than White women.
   • More likely to be diagnosed at later stages:
     • Only ~57% diagnosed at localized stage (vs. 66% of White women).
     • 8–10% are diagnosed at metastatic stage (vs. ~5% for White women).
   • Triple-negative breast cancer (more aggressive and harder to treat) is about 2x more common in Black women.

2. Latina/Hispanic Women:
   • Lower overall incidence but often diagnosed at younger ages.
   • More likely than White women to be diagnosed at regional or distant stages:
     • ~30–35% diagnosed at regional stage.
     • ~7% at distant stage.
   • Barriers: Language, lack of insurance, cultural stigma.

3. American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Women:
   • Often have lower screening rates, contributing to later-stage diagnosis.
   • Distant-stage diagnoses can be 8–10%, higher than national average.
   • Geographic isolation and limited access to oncology care are major factors.

4. 4. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Women:
      • Wide variation within subgroups (e.g., Vietnamese vs. Japanese).
      • Slightly lower incidence overall, but certain subgroups have higher late-stage diagnosis due to access or cultural barriers.

Factors Driving Disparities:

• Limited access to healthcare
• Lower screening rates
• Insurance gaps
• Cultural and language barriers
• Medical mistrust or lack of provider follow-up