“In Unity there is Strength, In Strength there is Power, In Power there is Change.”
– Karen E. Jackson, 1995. Founder & CEO of the Sisters Network, Inc.
Reflecting on Black History Month this year, we can’t ignore the disparities in breast cancer outcomes facing the Black community. Despite these challenges, there is much hope. Leaders across communities in Virginia and all over the nation have been coming together for years to bridge the gap, secure more research, and support folks in need. Read on to learn more about the latest statistics, and the organizations working to fight them.
The American Association for Cancer Research recently published its 2022 Cancer Disparities Progress Report, which provides some of the latest research on these gaps. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for Black women, who have a 40% higher chance of dying than white women. Evidence shows that a breast cancer diagnosis at a younger age is more common in Black women. Furthermore, they’re more likely to be diagnosed with biologically aggressive forms of the disease at all ages. Although Black women are 31% more likely to have denser breasts, a known risk factor, research shows they are less likely to receive additional diagnostic testing to confirm a diagnosis.
This distressing data doesn’t leave Black men out, either. Although cases for men are rare, they experience a higher incidence of breast cancer than their white counterparts, including a two-fold higher risk of the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer subtype.
(Source: The American Association for Cancer Research’s 2022 Cancer Disparities Progress Report. For your free copy of the full report, go to CancerDisparitiesProgressReport.org.)
Below we have compiled a quick guide to some of the top organizations leading the way in educating and supporting those dealing with breast cancer in the Black community. If you know of a support group or resource not listed, please share them with us at help@vbcf.org.
QUICK LINKS
- Black Women’s Health Imperative
- BlackHealthMatters.com
- National Black Leadership Initiative on Chronic Diseases
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer
- Cancer Care Celebrates Black History Month
- TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
- The Sisters Network, Inc.
- The Sisters Network Central VA Chapter –
(Email: centralvirginia@sistersnetworkinc.org) - The Sisters Network Tidewater Chapter –
(Email: hamptonroads@sistersnetworkinc.org) - Tigerlilly Foundation’s Angel Advocacy Program
- Young Survival Coalition
VIDEOS
“Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Black Women”
from Johns Hopkins Medicine
How a single mammogram screening helped an entire family.
“Why Black women face a triple threat from breast cancer”
from PBS NewsHour
Yamiche Alcindor reports on the complicated history of disturbing statistics for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Why Do Black Women Have a Higher Risk of Breast Cancer at a Younger Age?”
from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Temeika Fairely, PhD, Senior Health Scientist for the CDC, explains what she wants young black women to know about their risk of breast cancer.
Have you or someone you love recently been diagnosed with breast cancer? VBCF is here to help. Our Resource Coordinator will customize a Newly Diagnosed or Caregiver Kit free of charge for you, and assist you in finding additional resources to help you throughout your breast cancer journey.
To get connected or share additional resources with VBCF, email Nikki Jennings at nikki@vbcf.org or call 800-345-8223 ext. 205 today.
