Breast Cancer in Black Women
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According to the National Cancer Institute, over 19,000 Black women were diagnosed with breast cancer this year. We are typically diagnosed at a much later stage than most women, and are more likely to die from this disease. Our feature article WSL Health Topic: "Breast Cancer & African American Women--It's a Different Beast" sheds light on this devastating health disparity. Much is becoming known about two especially virulent forms of breast cancer that are very aggressive in young Black women. Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) and Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) strike at a much earlier age, and are misdiagnosed far too often. You see, the young age of these patients place these women outside the typical age profile of women with breast cancer. |
We must be informed about the unique threat breast cancer poses to Black women. That's why we've prepared new Fact Sheets, “Inflammatory Breast Cancer,” and “Triple Negative Breast Cancer,” available for download on our Resources page.
Breast Self-Exam, Clinical Breast Exam, and Mammogram are three essential screenings you can do to ensure finding breast cancer early if you have it, or preventing it altogether. To learn more about these life-saving screenings, we recommend the National Cancer Institute website. You’ll find our Fact Sheet on “Breast Self-Exam” available for download on our Resources page.
Self-Care for Sistah Survivors
Are you a breast cancer survivor? Whether you've just been diagnosed, or completed treatment years ago, our new book WHOLE: 12 Principles for Rebuilding Life after Breast Cancer was written just for you. It's the first comprehensive survivorship guide for African American women, covering every aspect of living affected by breast cancer including body image, relationships, family, sexuality, work, and finances. It's a must-read for all breast cancer survivors, their loved ones, and healthcare providers.
Read an excerpt from WHOLE: 12 Principles for Rebuilding Life after Breast Cancer
What people are saying about WHOLE
"WHOLE: 12 Principles for Rebuilding Life after Breast Cancer" provides a creative, unique, complete, practical, culturally sensitive, and compassionate guide for African American breast cancer survivors who are ready to examine and enhance their lives as part of their recovery. It offers sage advice, rituals, self-care, healthy recipes, and introspective exercises that aid women in envisioning and recreating themselves as more alive and more whole individuals. The diagnosis of cancer is a life changing event. This book offers opportunities for making it a life enhancing event. It will be of great value to African American breast cancer survivors and any women interested in personal growth."
-Patricia L. Dawson, MD, PHD, FACS - Seattle, Washington
"I am usually not good at following through with books that require input on reflections, but I enjoyed the unique ways "WHOLE" interpreted the healing process and the guides that prompted me to look inside of myself to find my sincere responses. Wish I had this during my active encounter with cancer and the therapies. I like the dialog with myself that this self-care book forced me to have."
-Linda Waddell, 10-year survivor - Columbus, Ohio
