There exist racial/ethnic survival differences among females with breast cancer worldwide, varying by sociodemographic (e.g., education, socioeconomic position [SEP], income, etc.), clinical (e.g., tumor subtype, hormone status, treatment status, stage at diagnosis, etc.), and environmental factors (e.g., structural barriers, residential locale, healthcare access, etc.). Despite the decrease in incidence and mortality rates among females who identify as white, racial/ethnic minority groups remain at increased risk for these outcomes. For example, in the US context, although Black females reflect similar breast cancer incidence rates compared to White females, they have higher rates of cancer-specific mortality. On the other hand, incidence rates for Hispanic women have continued to grow even while mortality rates have declined. Worldwide, women of minority racial/ethnic groups have reported more late-stage diagnoses, fewer treatment options, and lower survival rates compared to their White counterparts.
Using the biopsychosocial model, an interdisciplinary model that addresses the multifactorial connection between the biological, psychological, and social aspects of health, the impact of racial/ethnic disparities among women diagnosed with breast cancer will be discussed. It is evident that racial/ethnic minority groups, and especially those who belong to more than one risk group (e.g., sex, sexual identity, those of low income, with disabilities, with multimorbidity) are at increased risk for worsened breast cancer outcomes compared to those without multiple disparity group identities. However, little research has been clinically assessed or introduced to cancer care at a level that may impact all racially/ethnically diverse women at-risk for, or who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The goal of this Research Topic, therefore, is to utilize the holistic approach of the biopsychosocial model to address the multitude of factors that cause and exacerbate racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer care across the cancer care continuum, and more importantly, how we, as scientists and clinicians, can move toward equitable care, both in treatment and survivorship.
The editors are interested in articles concentrated on presenting new clinically-applicable research using the biopsychosocial model to improve breast cancer treatment and survivorship care among racial/ethnic minority women to mitigate care disparities. The following types of submissions are welcomed: Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Policy and Practice Reviews, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Community Case Study, Brief Research Report, Opinion, and Study Protocol.
The editors welcome submissions that are related (but are not limited) to the following topics:
- Structural barriers to health equity among female breast cancer patients and survivors
- Biological predictors of breast cancer mortality and successful survivorship (e.g., allostatic load, tumor biology, genetic mutation[s], chronological age)
- Screening and treatment inequality
- Environmental disparities and breast cancer
- Successful survivorship and social media
- Social media recruitment strategies
- Mixed-method research
There exist racial/ethnic survival differences among females with breast cancer worldwide, varying by sociodemographic (e.g., education, socioeconomic position [SEP], income, etc.), clinical (e.g., tumor subtype, hormone status, treatment status, stage at diagnosis, etc.), and environmental factors (e.g., structural barriers, residential locale, healthcare access, etc.). Despite the decrease in incidence and mortality rates among females who identify as white, racial/ethnic minority groups remain at increased risk for these outcomes. For example, in the US context, although Black females reflect similar breast cancer incidence rates compared to White females, they have higher rates of cancer-specific mortality. On the other hand, incidence rates for Hispanic women have continued to grow even while mortality rates have declined. Worldwide, women of minority racial/ethnic groups have reported more late-stage diagnoses, fewer treatment options, and lower survival rates compared to their White counterparts.
Using the biopsychosocial model, an interdisciplinary model that addresses the multifactorial connection between the biological, psychological, and social aspects of health, the impact of racial/ethnic disparities among women diagnosed with breast cancer will be discussed. It is evident that racial/ethnic minority groups, and especially those who belong to more than one risk group (e.g., sex, sexual identity, those of low income, with disabilities, with multimorbidity) are at increased risk for worsened breast cancer outcomes compared to those without multiple disparity group identities. However, little research has been clinically assessed or introduced to cancer care at a level that may impact all racially/ethnically diverse women at-risk for, or who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. The goal of this Research Topic, therefore, is to utilize the holistic approach of the biopsychosocial model to address the multitude of factors that cause and exacerbate racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer care across the cancer care continuum, and more importantly, how we, as scientists and clinicians, can move toward equitable care, both in treatment and survivorship.
The editors are interested in articles concentrated on presenting new clinically-applicable research using the biopsychosocial model to improve breast cancer treatment and survivorship care among racial/ethnic minority women to mitigate care disparities. The following types of submissions are welcomed: Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Policy and Practice Reviews, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Community Case Study, Brief Research Report, Opinion, and Study Protocol.
The editors welcome submissions that are related (but are not limited) to the following topics:
- Structural barriers to health equity among female breast cancer patients and survivors
- Biological predictors of breast cancer mortality and successful survivorship (e.g., allostatic load, tumor biology, genetic mutation[s], chronological age)
- Screening and treatment inequality
- Environmental disparities and breast cancer
- Successful survivorship and social media
- Social media recruitment strategies
- Mixed-method research
