The role of racial and ethnic discrimination in breast cancer disparities

The Lancet Breast Cancer Commission report encompasses prevention, personalised treatment, inclusive management of metastatic breast cancer, identifying the hidden costs of breast cancer, tackling breast cancer gaps and inequities through global collaboration, and communication and empowerment.1 It is also important to recognise and address discrimination as a key determinant of breast cancer disparities. Here we elucidate mechanisms through which racial and ethnic discrimination affects breast cancer outcomes, and provide a few promising examples to address discrimination via the implementation of anti-discrimination health-care policies and interventions and the mobilisation of minority groups.