Ethnic minorities in England up to a third less likely to get breast cancer diagnosis via routine screening, study finds

People from minority ethnic backgrounds in England are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer through routine screening and more likely to receive a diagnosis in an emergency setting, according to new research from the University of Surrey and funded by Breast Cancer Now. The study, which analyzed 86,564 adults diagnosed with breast cancer between 2009 and 2019, found that ethnic minority patients were up to a third less likely to be diagnosed via routine screening compared to white patients. Instead, they were more often diagnosed after an urgent referral or in an emergency department, which can indicate later-stage disease and poorer outcomes. The findings highlight persistent disparities in access to early detection services among marginalized groups in England. Researchers used data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and the Cancer Registration Tumour and Treatment datasets. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve screening uptake and reduce inequalities in breast cancer diagnosis. Addressing these gaps could lead to earlier detection, better treatment options, and improved survival rates for ethnic minority communities.