Melanin & Pink Ribbons

Black women are being diagnosed at a much higher rate than Caucasian women. Susan G. Komen reports the rate of breast cancer mortality is 20.1% for White women and 28.1 for Black women in 2012-2016. That is a huge difference. The rates for 2016-2020 are 19.7 for White women and 27.6 for Black women according to the National Center for Health.

This is alarming for our community. We are dying from breast cancer at a rate that is too high. It has been reported by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in January 2023 that our diagnosis rates  as Black women are due to comorbidities such as:

Diabetes

Heart Disease

Obesity

Lower Rates of Breastfeeding

As a community of women, we must change these statistics. How do we do that, you may ask? It’s simple yet challenging at the same time. First, take care of yourself. Make sure you perform your self-care by doing the BSE (Breast Self Exam) monthly. Second schedule your mammogram. Third look at your breasts and KNOW YOUR NORMAL. Fourth teach the ladies you love to take care of themselves as you do. We must normalize breast health and we must talk to each other. Having access to health care and health insurance are two big prohibitive factors that affect our breast cancer diagnosis and journey.

Let’s make a difference and start today by sharing this with two people you love. Early detection saves lives!