A comparison of observed (absolute) survival rates was made for 890 black and 24,372 white female breast cancer cases diagnosed at age 24-84 years from 1976 to 1981 while residents in Upstate New York, using data on passive follow-up as reported to the population-based New York State Cancer Registry. Although survival rates were significantly lower in black vs. white cases at 1 and 3 years after diagnosis for all stages combined, racial differences in survival within each clinical stage were small. Noteworthy were the nearly identical survival rates for blacks and whites diagnosed at stage 1 (local disease). Thus, black-white differences in socioeconomic status, especially when stage at diagnosis is considered. Within clinical stage 3 (metastatic) cases, however, survival tended to be poorer in younger (less than 60 years) black vs. white patients. These data suggest the need for programs aimed at early detection of breast cancer among black women at younger ages.