Where most breast cancer deaths are occurring

According to the latest CDC data, there were 18.7 breast cancer deaths per 100,000 women in the United States in 2024. Over the last decade, the national breast cancer mortality rate has fallen by roughly two per 100,000 women.

However, disparities in breast cancer deaths persist, with mortality rates continuing to be disproportionately high in lower-income states, particularly in the Southeast. The District of Columbia, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and West Virginia had the highest breast cancer mortality rates, while Rhode Island, North Dakota, and Massachusetts had the lowest.

"That pattern [shown in the new CDC map] more or less has existed for as long as we've been tracking this kind of data," said David Radley, a senior scientist at the Commonwealth Fund.

New research also suggests that breast cancer mortality rates are likely to widen further between rural and urban populations in the United States over the next decade.

In an analysis presented at an American Association for Cancer Research conference, researchers found that the age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rate is projected to be approximately 13% higher among rural populations than urban populations by 2035. This projected difference is equal to roughly 38 additional breast cancer deaths per 1 million women in rural areas compared to urban areas.

How health disparities are impacting breast cancer care

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), health disparities can create barriers to getting diagnosed and treated for cancer. These disparities can include racial, gender, geographic, financial, and socioeconomic factors.

For example, data from the Commonwealth Fund shows that Black women have the highest age-adjusted rate of breast cancer mortality compared to other groups in 37 states. This higher mortality rate among Black women persists even though they get regular mammograms at comparatively higher rates.

Even with higher screening rates, Black women are more likely to experience delays in follow-up testing after an abnormal mammogram and have their breast cancer detected at a later stage, when treatment is less effective.

The cost of treatment can also impact patients' ability to get effective care. Although Affordable Care Act coverage provides breast cancer screenings at no cost, follow-up testing, such as additional imaging or biopsies, has historically not been covered. It wasn't until January 2026 that updated preventive services guidelines required health insurance plans to cover necessary follow-up imaging or pathology at no cost.

In addition, ACS has found that underinsured or uninsured patients often delay screenings, are diagnosed at later stages, and have higher rates of medical debt or bankruptcy.

William Dahut, ACS' chief scientific officer, said early detection of breast cancer remains critical for effective treatment. Currently, breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and accounts for roughly a third of new diagnoses of its type each year.

"We know if you find breast cancer early on, the outcome is significantly better," Dahut said. He recommends women be aware of changes in their bodies, take any concerns seriously, and seek medical attention if something doesn't seem right.

"Because sadly, we hear too many stories about particularly younger women, oftentimes women of color, who are told that's just normal, that that's just a cyst. Then sadly, we see a much more advanced cancer develop over the next two years," Dahut said. "So, you know, trust your instincts, trust your body."