A new study led by researchers at UC San Francisco found that invasive breast cancer is rising quickly among Asian American women.
The increase is seen in almost every Asian group and is faster than any other U.S. ethnic group. The jump is strongest for women younger than 50 and for cancers that have already spread.
Breast Cancer Rates Are Growing Fast
The research, published in JAMA Network Open, shows an average yearly rise of more than 3% in most Asian groups. Chinese and Vietnamese women saw the biggest jumps.
Native Hawaiian women already have high rates, but their increase is only about 1% per year, far slower than the Asian groups.
More screening does not fully explain the trend. Screening usually catches cancers early, yet the fastest growth was in cancers that were already advanced.
One worrying sign is the rise of triple‑negative breast cancer, the most aggressive type. Among Chinese American women, this subtype grew by over 6% each year from 2017 to 2022.
How the Study Was Done
Scientists looked at roughly 150,000 invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2022. The data came from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER program.
The analysis covered nine Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander groups across 14 states—states that include about two‑thirds of the U.S. AANHPI population.
In the past, most Asian women (except Native Hawaiians) had lower breast cancer rates than non‑Hispanic white women. That gap is closing fast. By 2022, the rate for Asian women under 50 matched that of white women the same age.
What Might Be Causing the Rise?
Researchers do not yet know why cancer is climbing for women under 50. Changes in birth patterns, diet, and lifestyle could play a part, but they do not fully explain the numbers.
Some Asian communities may have risk factors that scientists have not discovered yet. Two UCSF projects—CRANE and ASPIRE—aim to find more answers.
"We need to learn why cancer is increasing so fast in these groups," said lead researcher Gomez. "We also must make sure every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander woman gets culturally‑appropriate education, screening, and quick follow‑up care."
Funding for the study came from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program, and the Surveillance Research Program of the National Cancer Institute.