What this means for Black residents of South Carolina
That figure runs materially above the US national average of 19.4 per 100,000 (age-adjusted).
Black women are diagnosed with breast cancer at slightly lower rates than white women but die at materially higher rates — a paradox driven by three factors: higher prevalence of the triple-negative subtype (which is more aggressive and harder to treat), later-stage diagnosis on average, and slower time-to-treatment after diagnosis. In South Carolina, the biggest state-actionable lever is parity in screening mammography access and completion of the follow-up abnormal-mammogram biopsy. Patient-navigator programs at NCI-designated cancer centers have repeatedly shown disparity-reducing effects.
The figures on this page are drawn from CDC WONDER + NCI SEER, which is the canonical public dataset for this indicator. See the References section below for supporting citations from MMWR, NEJM, and JAMA where the underlying drivers have been studied.
Policy actions
Policy levers at the state level for this indicator include Medicaid coverage scope, provider workforce investments, and data transparency mandates. The state's health department publishes the specific programs currently funded via its annual state health plan.
Where to get help in South Carolina
- Breast imaging / oncology — NCI-designated cancer centers in South Carolina: NCI center finder
- CDC National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program: free screening for uninsured women
- Sisters Network Inc. (national Black breast cancer survivor network): sistersnetworkinc.org
References & primary sources
- Primary dataset: CDC WONDER + NCI SEER
- NCI SEER Cancer Statistics Review. seer.cancer.gov
- DeSantis CE et al. Breast cancer statistics for African American women. CA Cancer J Clin. Biennial update.
Data refreshed:
Where to go next
A number changes nothing on its own. These are the South Carolina pages that act on it.
Programs you can use in South Carolina
States ranked next to South Carolina on breast cancer mortality
- Ohio 30.30 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 6 of 51
- Alabama 30.20 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 7 of 51
- Georgia 29.80 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 9 of 51
- Arkansas 29.70 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 10 of 51