This Forum examines why Latinas continue to face significant breast cancer disparities despite medical advances in detection and treatment. While breast cancer incidence rates in Latinas are lower than non-Hispanic White women, mortality rates remain higher, with Latinas more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages, advanced stages, and with aggressive subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer. Experts explore the intersection of biological factors—including higher prevalence of triple-negative disease and lower rates of BRCA mutation screening—with systemic barriers such as insurance gaps, language obstacles, and limited access to genetic counseling and genomic tumor testing. The discussion reveals how socioeconomic factors, federally qualified health center (FQHC) limitations, and lack of community health worker integration prevent low-income Spanish-speaking Latinas from benefiting from precision medicine advances. Presenters share research findings and policy recommendations aimed at eliminating prior authorization barriers, ensuring automatic tumor testing for all cancer patients, and supporting navigation services.

Key Topics Include:

• Breast cancer mortality trends and subtype distribution in Latina populations
• Socioeconomic status and insurance coverage impacts on diagnosis and treatment
• Barriers to BRCA genetic testing and hereditary breast cancer screening in Hispanic/Latina communities
• Tu Historia Cuenta: Community promotora model (1.0) versus clinic-based approach (2.0) for hereditary breast cancer genetic testing among Spanish-speaking Latinas
• Disparities in genomic tumor testing access for low-income Latinas
• Implementation challenges of genetic testing programs in community health clinics
• The critical role of community health workers (promotoras) in patient navigation
• Policy recommendations including mandating reflexive testing (automatic genomic testing sent for all cancer diagnoses without requiring special orders or authorization)
• American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable strategic priorities
• Tu Historia Cuenta program, the Gilead-funded research project led by academic partner UC Davis and community co-investigator, The Latino Cancer Institute (TLCI), studying hereditary breast cancer 

Speakers include Eliseo Pérez-Stable, MD (National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NIMHD); Laura Fejerman, PhD, MSc (UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center); Manali Patel, MD, MPH, MS, FASCO (Stanford University School of Medicine); Sarah Shafir, MPH (American Cancer Society); and Ysabel Duron (The Latino Cancer Institute).