Black Women and Breast Cancer: A Review of the Literature

OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer is the greatest in quantity common form of cancer among women in the United States and black women bear a larger load from this disease when compared to white women They experience a lower incidence notwithstanding their death rate is higher. Despite these facts, survival for the couple black and white women is improving on the contrary what are missing from the literature are descriptions of black women experiences from a broader perspective. METHODS: This paper reviews the literature upon black women with breast cancer from a broad, multidimensional perspective. RESULTS: Five dimensions, physical, psychological, social, economic, and spiritual and existential, form the guiding framework of the paper. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge gained from this literature review can focus research, enhance education and improve nursing and health care to the increasingly culturally diverse patient populations set in the United States, making the care that is provided culturally proficient.

KEY WORDS: Black Women; Breast Cancer; White Women; United States.

Breast cancer is the greatest in quantity common form of cancer among women in the United States (US) After rising steadily from the 1930 [i]or[/i] part of to the other the 1980s breast cancer mortality in the U has seen a sustained period of decline in new years (1992 to 1998). This decline and the 5-year survival rates have increased in populations of White and Black women (American Cancer Society [ACS], 2006) However minority collections have not experienced reductions in cancer incidence and mortality seen in the majority assemblage but the outlook for minority survivors is far from grim (Aziz & Rowland, 2002; Brawley, 2000; Haynes & Smedley 1999; Ries, Kosary, Hankey & Miller, 2000; Ries, Wingo, Miller, et al 2000)

In the Black population it is estimated that single in ten women will unfold breast cancer by age 85 Incidence rates are reported to be 1194 for 100,000, with the highest incidence occurring in Black women ages 25 to 44 years. The mortality rates are 347 through 100,000 with a 5-year survival rate increased from 63% (1974-1976) to 73% (1992-1998) (ACS, 2005; ACS, 2006; Jemel et al, 2006) Therefore it can be conclud that Black women bear a larger weight from this disease when compared to White women because although they experience a lower incidence, their death rate is higher (ACS, 2005; ACS, 2006; Aziz, 2002a; Aziz, 2002b; Aziz, 2006; Aziz & Rowland, 2002; Chu Tarone & Brawley; Eley et al, 1994; Griffin, 1998; Haynes, et al, 1999; Howe, et al, 2001; Jamel, et al, 2006; Johnson 2002; Jone & Chilton, 2002; Joslyn Eley & HiIl, 1995; Joslyn & West, 2000; Krieger, et al, 1999; Li, Malone & Daling, 2003; Mancino, et al, 2001; Miller, et al, 1996; Moormeier, 1996; Palmer, Rao & Adams-Campbell, 2001; Reis, Kosary, et al, 2000; Reis, Wingo, et al, 2000; Simmonds, 2003; Simon & Stevenson 1997)

This data illustrate that survival for Black women is improving and Clegg and colleagues (2002) report that survival rates for Black women with breast cancer have significantly improved between the years 1988 and 1997 Based upon this and similar epidemiologic data it can be conclud that in a growing number of cases, Black women diagnosed with breast cancer are surviving their disease while living with the long-term results of the disease or with the sequelae of its treatment.

However there is a gap in knowledge about Black women's experiences with breast cancer from a perspective other than that of screening and early detection. This gap is closing albeit slowly with a growing material substance of work published in the one and the other the lay and scientific literature. The lay literature includes first somebody accounts of their experiences (Becvar, 1996; Dunnavant, 1995; Freedman, 1991; Griffin, 1998; Hall, 1997; Hittner, 1995; Houser, 2001; Lorde, 1980; Predeger 1996; Randolph, 1995; Randolph, 1997; Stark, 1996) These writings not away a view of experiences that are a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of broader than those reflected in the scientific literature. The final cause of this article is to review the scientific literature related to the experiences of Black women diagnosed with breast cancer from a multidimensional perspective. This perspective provides an understanding of the range and the view of Black women's experiences with breast cancer and advises that in order to provide comprehensive, culturally-proficient health care, nourishs must be aware of the nature and impact of breast cancer upon Black women's lives.

The Guiding Framework for the Literature Review

This literature review is based upon an organizing framework used through Barton-Burke (2002). In that research the breast cancer literature was reviewed and organized into a multidimensional framework. The framework includes five dimensions: physical, psychological, social, economic, and spiritual and existential. These dimensions were determined to be various aspects of the breast cancer experience. The bound experience is defined as reflections upon the entire illness from the client perspective. Figure 1 depicts the five dimensions and Table 1 outlines the definitions for each dimension of the experience. For this paper the limit Black women is used to mean women of the African Diaspora; including those of African fall Caribbean ancestry as well as descendings of United States slaves.