Asian American women see breast cancer rates rise rapidly
Issue #234 covers breast cancer rising faster among Asian American women, a Mississippi family waiting for answers in their son’s death and speculation filling the silence around Sen. Mitch McConnell
Today’s stories begin by sharing awareness on breast cancer incidence among Asian American women. It’s climbing faster than in any other major racial or ethnic group, and a UCSF-led study found the overall number hides how much faster it climbs for some. Up next, a Mississippi family has made national headlines as they wait to learn how their 18-year-old son died. Some details appear to not add up, fueling speculations.
Then, two trips abroad come under scrutiny. Rep. Ro Khanna says armed settlers detained him in the occupied West Bank, an account the Israeli military disputes. Meanwhile, Elaine Chao’s Beijing meeting during Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization draws suspicion that ran into conspiracy.
McConnell turns up again in Margaret Cho’s video mocking Sen. Lindsey Graham hours after his death. Farther out, the Dalai Lama turns 91 with his succession contested, and four languages may make a brain look up to 13 years younger.
Featured
Breast cancer rising rapidly among Asian American women, study finds
No major racial or ethnic group in the U.S. is seeing breast cancer rise faster than Asian American women, a UCSF-led study found. Chinese and Vietnamese women recorded some of the steepest annual increases, and the rise is showing up in younger women and in more aggressive tumor types.
Researchers say expanded screening alone is unlikely to explain it. The study’s larger finding is what the single “Asian American” label leaves out.
What else we’re tracking
Family of Black Filipino American teen demands answers in Mississippi death investigation
Nearly two weeks on, Mississippi authorities have not said how 18-year-old Nolan Wells died after a Fourth of July boat trip. His parents reject the sheriff’s account of how their son ended up alone. At the same time, his Filipino heritage has gone largely unmentioned in media reports.
Rep. Ro Khanna says armed Israeli settlers detained him during occupied West Bank trip
Khanna says settlers carrying American-made rifles stopped his delegation near a Palestinian hamlet and that Israeli soldiers took their side. The Israeli military describes it differently. Body camera footage has surfaced … and it does not show how the encounter began.
McConnell’s health, Chao’s China ties spark speculation
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell has not appeared in public since June 14, and his office called the episode a fall. However, emergency dispatch audio reportedly suggests otherwise. Meanwhile, Elaine Chao met China’s vice president three days after he was hospitalized. The speculation since has outrun the record.
Margaret Cho mocks Lindsey Graham hours after senator’s death
Hours after the South Carolina Republican died at 71, Cho posted a video captioned “Bye gurl” that referenced longstanding rumors about his sexuality and did not stop there. Her comments section split on whether that was fair game.
At 91, the Dalai Lama faces China’s succession push as US backs Tibetan autonomy
The Dalai Lama says he will be reborn in a free country. Beijing, on the other hand, insists the reincarnation be found inside China and cleared by the government. In 1995 it seized the boy he named as Tibetan Buddhism’s second-highest figure, and no one has seen him since.
Speaking multiple languages may make your brain appear years younger, researchers say
In findings not yet peer reviewed, adults who spoke four languages had brains that appeared up to 13 years younger than those of monolingual speakers. Curiously, the gap widened with each additional language. Whether that describes your household may depend on when you learned.
Why read Issue #234?
This issue exposes how a name can pass for a finding. Breast cancer incidence has been climbing above 4% a year among Chinese and Vietnamese women since the mid-2010s. Under a single label, the Asian American figure is 2.34% a year, which is accurate and tells you nothing about who is carrying it. Meanwhile, a former transportation secretary’s ancestry gets read as evidence of divided loyalty.
Well, nobody checked either one. The name got there first and settled it, so nobody looked again. Fixing a wrong one takes years … Unfortunately, the work rarely falls to whoever applied it. Check out this issue, because you did not choose most of the words currently attached to you.
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The Rebel Yellow is supported in part by funding from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF). Funders do not influence story selection, reporting, or editorial decisions. All editorial content is independently produced by The Rebel Yellow team.