Understanding Improvements in Disparities in Breast Cancer Care in Memphis, Tennessee: A Comparison of Two Time Cohorts.

This article focuses on racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes between Black and White women in Memphis, Tennessee, comparing data from two periods: 2002–2012 and 2013–2020. Despite improvements over the past decade, Black women continued to present with more advanced disease stages, experienced longer median times to surgery, and had higher adjusted odds of recurrence (42% increased likelihood) and mortality (36% increased likelihood) compared to White women in the later period. The study attributes some progress to local outreach and national health programs but highlights persistent disparities likely influenced by social, economic, and systemic factors. Limitations include data from a single health system and missing information on community interventions, underscoring the need for broader data collection and targeted efforts to reduce inequities in breast cancer care in Memphis.