OPINION:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, but for a South Asian woman, the diagnosis brings added challenges, including navigating medical care and cultural taboos.
In South Asian communities, the mention of breasts alone is controversial, as they’re associated with sexuality, not health. As co-founder of YouthTogether, a nonprofit addressing health-care disparities, I’ve seen the impact of stigma firsthand. In 2023, I ran a free breast cancer screening clinic in Punjab, India. What troubled them most was changing into gowns to have their breasts examined.
In India, some believe tight clothing causes cancer, and others assume pain is an early symptom. This delays diagnosis.
This stigma follows South Asian women to the U.S. where, despite greater access to care, their cancer is often more advanced due to delayed screenings. Women visit the doctor only if they’re in pain, not for recommended annual tests. Unfamiliarity with the U.S. health-care system and language barriers make care difficult to access. For the uninsured, cost is another obstacle.
The result is that South Asian breast cancer patients in the U.S. have lower five-year survival rates than non-Hispanic white women, largely due to late detection.
We must create a system that understands, respects and addresses cultural barriers and affordability. Breast health information should be in native languages, framed in ways that resonate with collectivistic values.
NOOR SIDHU
Co-founder and vice president, YouthTogether
Granite Bay, California
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