Breast Cancer Incidence in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Populations, 2000-2022

Breast cancer incidence among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander females as an aggregated group have been increasing rapidly. A total of 148 608 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander females with breast cancer (44 234 aged <50 years [29.8%] and 104 374 aged ≥50 years [70.2%] at diagnosis; 138 808 of Asian American [93.4%] and 9800 of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander [6.6%] race and ethnicity) were included, among whom 63.9% were diagnosed at a localized stage and 66.6% with the HR-positive and ERBB2-negative subtype. Increased incidence rates of invasive breast cancer were observed among Asian American females from 2012 to 2022, surpassing the trend in other racial and ethnic groups. Significant increases in overall and early-onset (ie, age <50 years) breast cancer were evident in all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ethnic groups, with Chinese and Vietnamese females experiencing increased APCs of 4.57% and 4.30% since 2015 and 2016, respectively. Research tailored to these distinct ethnic groups is needed to discern potentially novel risk factors for breast cancer. Culturally sensitive efforts are needed to promote awareness and increase breast cancer screening in distinct ethnic groups. The rapid recent increases in breast cancer incidence in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women, especially early-onset disease, warrant urgent attention.