The incidence of breast cancer in the Northeast United States is significantly higher than that of the rest of the U.S. Possible explanations for this increased incidence include greater availability of mammography. Other possible explanations include known risk factors such as high socioeconomic status and late childbearing. However, environmental exposures to chemicals, electromagnetic radiation and other possible causative factors have not been excluded. Therefore these factors also warrant intensive investigation. Investigators Columbia's School of Public Health have been funded for 4 years to access exposures that may contribute to this excess risk.
Breast cancer is associated with high socioeconomic status.
While its overall incidence is higher in whites than in blacks and Latinos, the rate in young black women exceeds that in young white women, for reasons that are not understood. Overall mortality from breast cancer in American women is falling, except in postmenopausal black women and in elderly white women. These particular populations need to be targeted for mammography, early diagnosis and treatment. Comparable large scale screening of Latino and African American populations has not been reported. The Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center cares for a very diverse population of more than 700 new breast cancer patients a year.