An article in the IJ today paints an alarming picture of breast cancer rates in the north bay, and also looks at a multi-generational study begun 50 years ago to examine them.
- California Breast Cancer Mapping Project
- The North Bay “Area of Concern” is depicted in green.
Breast cancer rates in most of the counties surrounding the Bay are 10 to 20 percent higher than the state average, according to a graphic featured in the piece. The higher instances of cancer are clustered closer to the Bay itself, according to the map, with less of a concentration in west Marin and Sonoma, north Napa and east Solano. Mirroring statewide trends, the majority of cases in the North Bay (71 percent) are found among white women, followed by African American women (11 percent), a jump from the statewide average of 2 percent.
The study aims to follow 15,000 families through several generations.
The image featured in this article is part of the California Breast Cancer Mapping Project, which identifies four Areas of Concern for breast cancer across California. They include the North Bay, the South Bay, west L.A. and south Orange.
