Black women in the UK want clearer, more accessible breast cancer screening information, research has found.

The study looked at why Black African and Black Caribbean women are less likely than white women to attend breast screening.

Researchers at the University of Surrey held focus groups and interviews with 47 Black African and Black Caribbean women aged 50 to 71.

Women in this age group are routinely invited for NHS breast screening.

The researchers said only 45 per cent of Black women attend screening, compared with 63 per cent of white women.

Anietie Aliu, lead author, postgraduate researcher at the University of Surrey and registered nurse, said: “Diagnosing breast cancer early can dramatically improve a person’s chance of survival.

“Breast cancer screening plays an important role in this by identifying the cancer and ensuring a person receives speedy treatment.

“Despite the importance of screening, Black women are less likely to attend appointments than white females.

“This puts them at risk of a potential cancer being diagnosed late and spreading to other areas of the body. We need to understand what is preventing Black women from attending these appointments and help identify ways to remove such barriers.”

The study found a need to increase awareness of breast cancer screening, especially among women less familiar with the service.

Some women, particularly those born outside the UK, knew little about breast screening before receiving their first invitation.

Others questioned why they needed screening when they had no symptoms.

The importance of trusted conversations was also identified.

Researchers found that some Black women expected their GPs to speak to them about breast screening, particularly before they reached screening age.

Although NHS breast screening is organised through national screening services, researchers said GPs often have established relationships with patients and may be well placed to offer brief advice on preventive care, including breast screening.

Participants called for stronger links between GP practices, breast screening services and Black community champions.

They said this could help women receive trusted information, ask questions and feel reassured.

Faith and religious beliefs also shaped decisions for some women.

Some Black African Christian women said illness, including cancer, was not permitted by God in their bodies, while others saw screening as a personal choice that did not conflict with Christian faith.

Muslim women highlighted the importance of being able to state their religion on medical appointment forms to help ensure they were seen by a female mammographer.

A mammographer is a healthcare professional trained to carry out breast screening scans.

Aliu added: “Breast screening can save lives, but our findings show that attendance is shaped by multiple factors, not just awareness, although awareness remains important.

“Women need relatable screening information, reassurance, flexible appointments and services that are accessible within their communities.

“Many felt that invitation letters were too formal, and that leaflets and media imagery did not reflect them, making it harder to relate to screening.”

Dr Afrodita Marcu, senior research fellow at the University of Surrey and member of the research team, said: “We need a more collaborative approach, where primary care, screening services and community voices work together to support women before, during and after the invitation.”

The researchers said future breast screening interventions should be designed with Black women, rather than for them.

They said user-friendly and culturally relevant resources, developed with communities, healthcare professionals and screening services, could improve understanding, reduce fear and make breast screening feel more accessible and reassuring.

Dr Robert Kerrison, associate professor of cancer care at the University of Surrey, said: “There is no question that breast screening can be lifesaving, but we need to make it easier for women to understand, access and feel reassured by the programme.

“This means improving communication, addressing practical barriers and making sure healthcare professionals and community partners are supported to provide clear and trusted information.”

The team has also explored healthcare professionals’ perspectives and worked with stakeholders to develop user-friendly materials with Black women.

Researchers said this co-designed approach could help ensure breast screening messages are culturally relevant, practical and shaped by the people they are intended to support.

Breast cancer rates have risen rapidly among Asian American women over the past two decades, with some of the steepest increases among women under 50, new research has revealed.

Rates rose by more than three per cent a year in nearly every Asian American ethnic group studied, much faster than in any other US ethnic group.

The increase was particularly marked among women under 50 and in cases involving advanced-stage disease or certain aggressive subtypes of the cancer.

The study found even larger increases among Chinese and Vietnamese women.

Breast cancer rates among Native Hawaiian women were already among the highest recorded among US women, but rose by about one per cent a year, less than the increases seen in Asian American groups.

The researchers said increased screening was unlikely to explain the trend because screening would be expected to identify more cancers at an earlier stage.

Instead, cancers that had already spread increased at the fastest rate.

Triple-negative breast cancer, considered the most aggressive subtype, rose by more than six per cent a year among Chinese American women between 2017 and 2022.

Scarlett Lin Gomez, senior author and professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, said: “These patterns are highly concerning from a disparities standpoint.

“They underscore why it is so important to move beyond treating Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders as a single population.”

Researchers analysed about 150,000 cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 2000 and 2022 using data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Programme.

The analysis covered nine Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations across 14 states. Together, these states account for about two-thirds of the US population within these groups.

Except for Native Hawaiian women, Asian American women have historically had lower breast cancer rates than non-Hispanic white women.

However, the gap has narrowed rapidly. By 2022, incidence among Asian American women under 50 was comparable with that recorded among white women.

The reasons for the increase among women under 50 remain unclear.

Changes in reproductive patterns, diet and other lifestyle factors may play a part, but researchers said they did not fully explain the findings.

They said previously unidentified risk factors may also be contributing to the rises in some Asian American communities.

Researchers hope two UCSF-based studies, the CRANE breast cancer study and the ASPIRE cohort study, will provide insights into these factors.

Gomez said: “Understanding why breast cancer is increasing so rapidly in these communities is critical.

“At the same time, we need to ensure that women across all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have access to culturally appropriate education, screening, and timely follow-up care.”

Smoking and alcohol were linked to breast cancer and irregular heartbeat in women aged 55 and over, a global analysis suggests.

Breast cancer and atrial fibrillation or flutter represent a growing global health burden, but the reasons for similar rates in some regions are not well understood.

Atrial fibrillation, also known as AFib, is an irregular heartbeat.

Study co-author Dr Shu Wang, director of the Breast Disease Center at Peking University People’s Hospital, said: “Identifying shared risk factors is important for developing interventions that support optimal health, such as smoking cessation and alcohol restriction, which could potentially reduce the global incidence of breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter substantially.”

Researchers examined rates of breast cancer and atrial fibrillation or flutter among women aged 55 and over in 204 countries and territories.

They assessed exposure to 58 shared and distinct health, behavioural and lifestyle risk factors, including smoking, alcohol use, body mass index and physical activity.

The analysis found that 80 of 202 countries and territories, around 39 per cent, had similar rates of both conditions.

Breast cancer was the dominant condition in 65 countries, while atrial fibrillation or flutter was dominant in 57.

After accounting for multiple variables, smoking and alcohol use were linked to higher rates of both breast cancer and atrial fibrillation or flutter.

A further analysis estimated that reducing alcohol intake and smoking could potentially cut breast cancer risk by around 15 per cent and atrial fibrillation or flutter risk by about 12 per cent worldwide.

Alcohol use was estimated to contribute to 9.27 per cent of breast cancer cases and 7.57 per cent of atrial fibrillation or flutter cases.

High-income and developed countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe, had elevated rates of both conditions.

The findings were consistent with previous research linking Western diets and sedentary lifestyles to greater risks of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions and cancer.

Wang said: “One of the most surprising aspects of our findings was how common both breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter diagnoses were among women ages 55 and older in high-income regions, which highlights the influence of lifestyle.

“This is the first study combining global data with machine learning to show the relationship between the conditions, their location across the world and the shared risk factors of these two conditions.”

The highest-risk areas were mostly in Western countries, where exposure to smoking and alcohol was greater than in Eastern regions.

Researchers said the pattern could reflect lifestyle, social and community differences. Western countries were also more likely to have higher body mass index, sedentary lifestyles and greater exposure to Western diets.

Study co-authors Dr Zeye Liu and Dr Yi Shi said: “Nowadays, more and more people are paying attention to the link between cancer and cardiovascular health.

“Breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter rise together across many regions of the world and share the same modifiable risk factors.

“From a cardiovascular perspective, this means that reducing smoking and alcohol use could help lower the risk of both conditions at the same time.”

Dr Laxmi Mehta, chair of the American Heart Association’s Council on Clinical Cardiology, was not involved in the research.

She said: “Many of the same modifiable factors, including smoking, alcohol use, poor diet, physical inactivity and obesity, contribute to both breast cancer and cardiovascular disease including atrial fibrillation/flutter, as confirmed by this study’s findings.

“This overlap underscores the importance of integrated lifestyle strategies to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 highlights key behaviours and health factors essential for prevention and reducing risk.”

The researchers created global risk maps that could help healthcare professionals and policymakers develop prevention strategies tailored to different regions.

They plan to add long-term research and genetic, metabolic and socioeconomic data to future analyses.

The study used information from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database.

Machine learning was used to examine global patterns, links between the two conditions and risk factors specific to different regions. Machine learning uses computer systems to identify patterns in large amounts of data.

The research was based on national-level information and did not include data about individual patients, meaning it cannot prove cause and effect.

Differences in screening, healthcare resources, data collection and definitions between countries may also have affected the results.