Race and place: complex constructs in breast cancer care

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the United States (1). Although cancer mortality has declined due to improvements in early detection and treatment, and the 5-year overall survival is high (89%), vulnerable patient groups including racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience disproportionate burdens of mortality from breast cancer (1). A growing body of literature supports longstanding concerns that racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic factors influence access and quality at all phases of oncologic care, from screening to treatment to surveillance to end-of-life care (2).