FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2024
TUBA CITY, Ariz. — According to the American Indian Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 American Indian women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, a rate that surpasses the average risk for women in the United States. Native American women are 7% more likely to develop breast cancer and 10% more likely to die from it compared to non-Hispanic white women.
“Cancer is currently the third leading cause of death among the Navajo people, accounting for 11.5% of all deaths,” states the most recent Navajo Cancer Report. “American Indian and Alaska Native people (AI/AN) are often diagnosed at more advanced stages of cancer compared to non-Hispanic white people. Despite having a lower incidence of breast cancer, Navajo women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages than their non-Hispanic white counterparts.”
Several factors contribute to the higher rate of breast cancer in Native American women:
- Risk Factors: Certain risk factors for breast cancer may be more prevalent in specific racial and ethnic groups.
- Diagnosis: Native Americans often receive a breast cancer diagnosis at a later stage than white people.
- Survival: American Indian and Alaska Native women have the poorest five-year relative survival rate of any ethnic or minority group in the US, with only about 63% surviving five years after diagnosis.
- Barriers: Significant barriers such as lack of childcare, transportation, and time off work, particularly in regions with harsh weather, hinder timely cancer detection and treatment.
- Historical and Cultural Factors: Historical and cultural factors, including the detrimental effects of uranium exposure and post-colonial changes in the food environment, along with social determinants of health (e.g., unemployment, food insecurity, and limited access to affordable quality healthcare services), play major roles in the higher cancer rates among the Navajo people.
These findings underscore the urgent need for improved cancer screening, early detection, and comprehensive healthcare services to address the unique challenges faced by Native American women.
About the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) Specialty Care Center
The Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation (TCRHCC) Specialty Care Center (SCC) opened in 2019, becoming the first cancer treatment center located on an American Indian reservation in the United States. The SCC provides essential services, including medical oncology, hematology, and infusion therapy. Since its inception, the center has treated over 800 patients, focusing on developing and expanding access to care while maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency to serve the Navajo, Hopi, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes.
The SCC team includes one oncologist, one nurse practitioner, two oncology nurses, one oncology pharmacist, one oncology pharmacy technician, one certified medical assistant, and one phlebotomist. Since 2019, the center has averaged about 60-80 patients per month.
The Specialty Care Center is self-funded by TCRHCC and does not receive special funding from the Indian Health Service for radiation oncology or some high-cost cancer drugs. The administration is actively seeking funding and educating key stakeholders at all levels of government to secure the necessary resources.
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