Black women in Memphis are dying from breast cancer at more than twice the rate of white women — 6.9% compared with 3.3% — according to new research presented recently at the University of Memphis.
The findings were shared during a panel discussion Monday, Feb. 23, sponsored by Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis, where researchers examined how segregation, poverty and long-standing neighborhood disinvestment contribute to late-stage breast cancer diagnoses and higher mortality rates.
The event also marked the release of the Hooks Institute’s Winter 2026 Policy Papers, titled “Breast Cancer Mortality in Memphis: A Holistic Approach — Research Findings and Strategies for Improved Outcomes in Segregated Communities.”
Daphene R. McFerren, J.D., executive director of the Hooks Institute, opened the presentation and Elena Delavega, Ph.D., M.S.W., moderated the discussion.
Researchers from the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center analyzed data from more than 10,000 breast cancer patients in Memphis. Their findings show that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages and are more likely to die from the disease.
One finding stood out: even when white women live in poverty, their breast cancer mortality rate remains lower than that of Black women living under the same economic conditions.
Researchers described the overlap of race, poverty and segregation as creating a “perfect storm” in certain neighborhoods.
High-poverty, highly segregated areas — many of which were historically redlined — show the
Dr. Shelley White-Means, one of the lead researchers, said late-stage diagnosis often reflects larger structural challenges.
Transportation limitations, gaps in insurance coverage and environmental conditions all influence whether women receive regular screenings and follow-up care.
Queen Cunningham, who drives the mobile mammography unit for Baptist Women’s Health Center Community Outreach, said she sees those challenges daily. She meets many women balancing work, childcare and financial pressures, which makes preventive care difficult to prioritize.
“When I meet patients, they are struggling with a lot of things. That is why this job is so important to me,” Cunningham said. “I drive the mobile unit and I am also a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (after) my first mammogram. That is why I like to be out in the community letting ladies know this is important.”
Leighanne Soden, president of the West Cancer Foundation, said removing barriers remains essential to improving outcomes.
“In the last two years, we have provided more than 14,000 rides for cancer patients. Free breast screenings are available, but despite this, screening numbers were down last year,” Soden said.
“Breaking barriers to care is critical if we want to change these outcomes. Transportation assistance and free screenings are especially important in neighborhoods where healthcare facilities are limited,” she said.
Researchers said the ultimate goal of the project is to provide lawmakers and policymakers with evidence that can guide decisions affecting breast health outcomes, particularly for Black women.
The policy papers recommend expanding Medicaid access, increasing mobile mammography services and targeting high-risk zip codes with resources. They also call for addressing decades of structural disinvestment in historically segregated neighborhoods.
The full research and policy papers are available through The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis at memphis.edu/benhooks.
