By: Mikayla Chan, Polytechnic School

Breast cancer, historically less common among Asian women compared to Western counterparts, is now on the rise in Asian populations. Recent studies show similar age-specific incidence rates of invasive breast cancer between Asian and US white women, suggesting converging trends. This shift is particularly notable among Asian American women, where breast cancer has become the predominant cancer type. From 1990 to 2014, breast cancer rates rose significantly among most Asian American ethnic groups, driven primarily by increases in ER-positive breast cancer. Factors such as acculturation and length of residence in the US are linked to higher breast cancer risks, with foreign-born Asian women showing lower incidence rates than their US-born counterparts. Lifestyle changes associated with Westernization, such as dietary habits and reproductive behaviors, contribute to the rising incidence.