Gene Mutation Worsens Breast Cancer in Blacks

The Washington Post ^ | August 10, 2004 | -- From News Services

[neverdem]

FINDINGS

Black women with breast cancer are much more likely than white women to have a genetic mutation that makes their cancer more dangerous, researchers reported yesterday.

The report, published in the journal Cancer, may help explain why black women are more likely than white women to die of the disease even though they are less likely to develop breast cancer in the first place.

Doctors and other health experts have long assumed it was because black women seek care later and because of differences in lifestyle.

Beth Jones of the Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut and colleagues studied the breast tumors of 145 black and 177 white women and found significant differences in mutations in p53, a gene known for its involvement in a range of cancers.

Jones's team looked at other genes involved in breast cancer and found no significant ethnic differences.

[neverdem]

The other topics in FINDINGS were "Many Elderly Patients Being Prescribed Wrong Drugs" and "Heart Attacks Without Pain In Chest May Mislead Doctors".

[bayourod]

"Doctors and other health experts have long assumed it was because black women seek care later..."

MDs assume that the earlier you start paying them money the healthier you will be. Too many studies have shown that's not necessarily true.

[neverdem]

ping

[cyborg]

That was a pretty short article. They should talk about how birth control drugs like depo provera. Among other things, it's been shown to increase increase breast cancer rates for women predisposed to lumps and also cystic ovaries and fibroids on and around the uterus. If I was a black female, I'd ask a lot of questions before getting the birth control patch or depo provera.

[cyborg]

Yep and some count on patients being sheep, and forking over money to pay for unneeded procedures.

[VOA]

Beth Jones of the Yale University School of Medicine in Connecticut and colleagues studied
the breast tumors of 145 black and 177 white women and found significant differences
in mutations in p53

"How dare these people at Yale use government money to call African-Americans mutants!?"

...just preparing you for the insane drivel from Rev. Jackson and similar
geniuses...

[GSlob]

Women and minorities are hardest hit.

[harrycarey]

Is Ronald Reagan evil or what?

First he brings AIDS to America to kill off the black population.

Now this.

(Probably Bush's fault, too... and Newt's)