Racial trends in age-specific breast cancer mortality rates in US women

Objectives. This study examined recent trends in age- and race-specific pat terns of breast cancer mortality. Methods. We analyzed breast cancer mortality data for 1979 through 1996. Results. From 1993 to 1996, White women of all age groups experienced avera ge annual decreases in breast cancer mortality. Throughout the study, young Black women had higher rates of breast cancer mortality than young White w omen. Older Black women had lower mortality rates than older White women in the earlier years of the study but experienced higher rates in the later y ears (1993-1996). Conclusions. Trends in risk factors and early detection do not provide an a dequate explanation for this recent substantial increase in breast cancer m ortality among older Black women.