83 Breast Cancer Prevalence Among Older Immigrant Women in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

The US foreign-born population has reached a historic high, and immigrant women experience persistent disparities in cancer prevention and care, including lower rates of recommended cancer screening. Prior studies suggest that foreign-born women have lower breast cancer screening and are often diagnosed at later stages compared with US-born women. Breast cancer incidence and mortality increase markedly with age, and women aged 65 years and older bear the greatest burden of disease. As the US older-adult population becomes increasingly diverse, understanding how nativity relates to breast cancer prevalence in older women is becoming increasingly important. However, data on breast cancer prevalence among elderly immigrant women remain limited.

Objectives

To estimate and compare the prevalence of self-reported breast cancer among US women aged 65 years and older by nativity status (foreign born vs US born).

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using National Health Interview Survey data from 2024. The study population included female respondents aged 65 years and older. Nativity was defined by place of birth (foreign born vs US born). The primary outcome was self-reported history of breast cancer, defined as an affirmative response to having ever been told by a health professional that they had breast cancer.

Results

Among women aged 65 years and older, the prevalence of self-reported breast cancer was higher among foreign-born women than among US-born women. This finding contrasts with prior literature suggesting lower breast cancer burden among immigrant populations. The higher observed prevalence among foreign-born older women may reflect cohort effects, selective survival, delayed diagnosis later in life, or differential exposure to breast cancer risk factors over the life course. Increased longevity among older immigrant women with cancer and improvements in access to care after immigration may also contribute to this pattern.

Conclusions

In this nationally representative sample of older US women, foreign-born women demonstrated a higher prevalence of self-reported breast cancer compared with US-born women, challenging assumptions derived from studies of younger populations. These findings underscore the need for age-specific and nativity-informed approaches to breast cancer screening, survivorship care, and prevention strategies in an increasingly diverse older adult population.