Video: Minority women get fewer mammograms

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Bridgette Richardson was diagnosed with breast cancer on her 35th birthday.

Her support group welcomes women dealing with cancer, specifically African American women.

"This is not us getting together and talking about the disease, it's about making the woman knowledgeable, making sure the community is aware, doing the outreach and education," she said.

Research shows that while Caucasian women have the highest risk of getting breast cancer, the incidence rate among African Americans is increasing, particularly in younger women.

"Not only do these women have cancer develop earlier compared to Caucasion women, the cancers tend to be more aggressive," said Dr. Connie Lehman of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Dr. Lehman says minority women are also less likely to get mammograms so their cancers aren't discovered until later. She believes the medical community needs to work harder.

"We'd like to reach out into their communities, for example with mobile mammographies, so we can bring the mammograms to them, rather than asking them to come into our centers," she said.