A NEW study from researchers based in the US has found that Black women living in economically deprived neighbourhoods face a significantly higher risk of dying from breast cancer, regardless of their personal lifestyle, treatment received, or stage of diagnosis.
The research, published as part of the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS), analysed data from 2,290 Black women diagnosed with stages I to III breast cancer. Participants, who had survived at least 12 months after diagnosis, were followed over a median period of 10.5 years.
Findings revealed that women residing in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods had a 47% higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared to those in more affluent areas. This significant difference persisted even after adjusting for treatment access, health behaviours, and other individual factors.
Lead researchers linked geocoded residential addresses to US Census data to assess neighbourhood-level deprivation. Breast cancer-specific deaths were tracked through the National Death Index. Among the cohort, there were 305 breast cancer-related deaths during the study period.
The mortality rate for women in the most deprived areas was 14.26 per 1,000 person-years, compared to 8.82 in the least deprived. The study highlighted that structural factors, such as neighbourhood-level poverty and limited access to healthcare, continue to drive racial disparities in cancer outcomes.
Additionally, self-reported experiences of racism, while previously thought to influence health outcomes, were not found to be significantly associated with breast cancer mortality in this study.
“These findings underscore the importance of addressing broader community and structural inequities,” the authors noted. “Interventions at the neighbourhood level, such as improving access to quality cancer care and reducing environmental stressors, may be essential in closing the survival gap for Black women.”
The research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that systemic issues, not just individual choices or experiences, play a pivotal role in health disparities faced by Black communities in the US.
Reference
Holder EX et al. Neighborhood disadvantage, individual experiences of racism, and breast cancer survival. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(4):e253807.
