What this means for Black residents of Washington
That figure tracks roughly the US national average of 19.4 per 100,000 (age-adjusted), though the underlying trend and drivers are state-specific.
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 Washington, 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 Washington
- Breast imaging / oncology — NCI-designated cancer centers in Washington: 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 Washington pages that act on it.
Programs you can use in Washington
States ranked next to Washington on breast cancer mortality
- New York 27.80 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 26 of 51
- Connecticut 25.20 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 33 of 51
- California 24.90 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 35 of 51
- Massachusetts 23.80 per 100,000 Black women, age-adjusted · ranked 38 of 51