Researchers analyzed 61 studies about breast cancer in Indigenous women from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. They compared breast cancer rates and survival between Indigenous women and non-Indigenous women in these regions.
The review found that while Indigenous women generally had lower rates of new breast cancer diagnoses, they faced a 32% higher risk of dying from the disease. The survival gap was more pronounced in Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) than in North America, and appeared slightly smaller in more recent years.
This research combines many existing studies, but it has important limitations. Data about Indigenous health is often missing from global databases, and the findings don't include regions like Africa and Asia. The studies reviewed were observational, meaning they show a pattern but cannot prove what specifically causes the survival difference.
Readers should understand this review highlights a serious and persistent health disparity. It underscores the need for continued efforts to ensure all women have access to timely screening and quality cancer care, but it doesn't provide new medical advice for individuals.