Black women with breast cancer in the Deep South reported feeling significantly less listened to (p=0.0068) and treated with less courtesy (p=0.0001) during healthcare experiences than white women.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,044)
Yes
Black women with breast cancer in the Deep South report significantly worse healthcare interactions and neighborhood dynamics compared to white women, highlighting disparities in social determinants of health.
p-value: p=0.0068
Abstract Purpose: In 2024, Black women had a 38% higher breast cancer mortality rate than their white counterparts, despite a lower incidence. The impact of the social determinants of health (SDoH) within this disparity remains unclear. The Deep South, an area associated with poorer health outcomes, hosts the highest cancer-related death rates nationwide. As such, evaluation of women with breast cancer in this region may influence the understanding of socioeconomic burden. This research examines and compares perceptions of healthcare interactions, access to infrastructure, and community dynamics to contribute to the understanding of social determinants in a black, southern population living with breast cancer. Methods: Participant and survey data were derived from the All of Us Research Program (AoURP) workbench and SDOH survey. The AoURP is an initiative focused on improving health outcomes through a diverse research database. Inclusion criteria consisted of adult women with breast cancer who self-identified as White or Black/African American and lived in the Deep South (Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi). Selected survey questions addressed neighborhood perspectives, access to neighborhood resources, and discriminatory experiences in healthcare settings. Black and white participants were identified via the cohort selection tool and further subdivided based on 3-digit zip code values. Using Python in Jupyter Notebook, participant responses were extracted and quantified to allow comparison. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 457 black women and 587 white women. Response counts per survey question varied. Black women were significantly more likely to express that their neighborhoods were noisy, unsafe, and unclean. Additionally, black women felt less listened to during health care experiences (p= 0.0068) and as if they were treated with less courtesy (p = 0.0001). Most questions addressing infrastructure did not result in statistically significant differences. Low-cost recreational facilities and shops were not within walking distance for the majority of both black and white respondents. Conclusion: These results indicate that black women with breast cancer are impacted by aspects of the SDoH more than their white counterparts. Negative neighborhood dynamics, as well as feelings of less respect and courtesy, may impact prognosis and rates of early diagnosis. Additionally, both cohorts indicated a disparity in infrastructure, which aligns with the predominantly rural composition of the Deep South. Citation Format: Lauren K. Evans, Ivan T. Jubilee, Layja J. Grant, Nelson R. Lemieux, KiTani Parker Lemieux. A comparison of black and white women with breast cancer in the Deep South and their experiences utilizing theAoUdataset abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 891.
Evans et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Breast cancer (n=1,044). Black race vs. White race was evaluated on Perceptions of healthcare interactions, access to infrastructure, and community dynamics (p=0.0068). Black women with breast cancer in the Deep South reported feeling significantly less listened to (p=0.0068) and treated with less courtesy (p=0.0001) during healthcare experiences than white women.