# Understanding the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act

This bill directs the federal government to focus more attention and resources on triple-negative breast cancer, a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer that disproportionately affects African-American and Hispanic women. The bill recognizes that this type of cancer grows and spreads faster than most other breast cancers and is especially dangerous because standard hormone-based treatments don't work against it. Since early detection is essentially the only effective strategy for survival with this cancer type, the bill aims to increase research into understanding it better and educate both the public and healthcare providers about the risks and treatment options.

The bill creates three main initiatives. First, it directs the National Institutes of Health to expand research programs focused on triple-negative breast cancer, allocating $500,000 per year from 2022 through 2024 to study the disease. Second, it requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and share public education materials about triple-negative breast cancer, particularly highlighting that minority women face significantly higher risk—African-American women are three times more likely to develop this cancer than white women. This information would be distributed through nonprofits, community groups, schools, and media outlets. Third, the bill requires healthcare providers to receive updated information about triple-negative breast cancer so they can better recognize and treat it.

The underlying concern driving this bill is a significant health disparity: while breast cancer survival rates have improved overall, African-American women still have lower survival rates than white women, and they're more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease. By funding research to better understand why triple-negative breast cancer is more common in minority communities and by ensuring doctors and patients have current information about this cancer type, the bill aims to help catch these cancers earlier and improve outcomes for the women most affected.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act of 2021

Jackson Lee, Sheila

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Research and Education Act of 2021 This bill requires research and education activities related to triple-negative breast cancer. The cells of these breast cancers are negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and excess HER2 protein, so they do not respond to hormonal therapy medicines or medicines that target the HER2 protein receptors. Specifically, the National Institutes of Health must conduct and support research into the disease. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration must develop information about triple-negative breast cancer, including information regarding the elevated risk for minority women, for the public and for health care providers.