Disparities in breast cancer risk factors, access, and treatment patterns are responsible for disparities in incidence, mortality and other measures of the impact of breast cancer among different population groups. Moreover, differences in culture and role definition impact various areas of aging and quality of life. Populations most impacted by disparities include women of racial/ethnic groups, older women, and women from rural and urban areas. More research is needed to document and address disparities across the cancer control continuum among a variety of populations that suffer disparities.