Black women with cancer have limited access to genetic testing, according to a new study.

A recent study conducted by Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center found that Black women with cancer face more barriers to genetic testing. Researchers interviewed 20 Black and 30 white women at high risk of breast cancer to better understand racial differences in decision-making.

The study found that Black women are more likely to delay or avoid genetic testing to measure their cancer risk. “They’re not getting screened at the same rate,” said Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Surgical Oncologist Dr. Bridget Oppong. “They’re showing up with more advanced cancers, and they’re not having the same access to treatment, or they’re not completing the treatments.”

Polygenic risk scores, which estimate an individual’s genetic risk for some disease or trait, are predominantly validated through sizable genome-wide association studies comprised of 79% European participants. This overrepresentation of European ancestry has led to study bias, making polygenic risk scores less applicable to Black patients.

The study further found disparities in access to care, with only 15% of Black women reporting access to specialists, compared to 70% of the white women. Furthermore, Black women were more likely to get information about genetic testing and cancer prevention procedures from a primary care physician (PCP), with more than three-quarters of Black women reporting that their PCP was their “main source” of information. However, many PCPs may not have the knowledge or expertise to give accurate answers about cancer risk.

Financial barriers were also found to be a major issue for Black women. Forty percent of Black women interviewed reported they had experienced a time without insurance, compared to just 3% of white women. In addition, 40% of the Black women also described significant financial difficulties coping with health challenges, compared to 3% of whites. This indicates that Black women are less likely to have access to the resources they need to manage their breast cancer risk.

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