The statistics indicate that one in five of us will develop breast cancer is pretty scary! What's even scarier is that I personally know 11 women (1 maternal aunt, 1 2nd cousin, 5 co-workers, 3 close friends) who have battled this terrible disease. I am joyful that 9 of these brave women are still kicking this deceased in the butt - while 2 others sadly succumbed to its deadly invasion.
I hope you will take some time to read this post and most importantly encourage your mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, nieces, and friends to get checked yearly. Yeah, I know...I don't like being squished, and squashed, flopped and flipped either - but that little bit of discomfort is a small price to pay for my life and the lives of my daughters.
So, I offer you this post in recognition of Women's History Month and the Fight Against Breast Cancer! Hope you will be inspired to join the Fight!
In recognition of Women's Health Month, Black America Web honored three women who have dedicated their lives to closing the health gap for the black community. According to BAW: This dynamic trio of great strength has something else in common. Each of these women knows what it’s like to learn that her sister has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
As Program Director, Dr. Browne manages the breast cancer prevention research portfolio that is focused on the development of chemo prevention agents for breast cancer. She is a 2007 Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars where her research focused on estrogen receptor negative breast cancer health disparities.
Ms. Lipscomb serves as the director of the State Office of Minority Health as an advocate for effective health services for Alabama’s underserved, and diverse ethnic and racial populations. As the Director of Minority Health, Ms. Lipscomb reviews and consults on health policies to assess their cultural competence, reducing disparities, and increasing accessibility to health care systems.
Since 1996, Ms. Sheats has led the NBLIC, a national program aimed at reducing cancer health disparities among African Americans, consisting of four regions including 33 volunteer community coalitions in 30 states. Understanding that advances made through cancer research will be of no benefit to the African American community unless the information is readily available, the NBLIC disseminates information on cancer incidence, treatment, and prevention to the African American community in ways that are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
The Sister Study is the only long-term study of women aged 35-74 whose sister had breast cancer. It is a national study to learn how environment and genes affect the chances of getting breast cancer. A total of 50,000 women will join the effort to find the causes of breast cancer.
The risk for breast cancer increases as you get older. It is the most common cancer (excluding skin cancer) and the most common cause of cancer death in women over the age of 65. Research shows that breast cancer rates rise as women age, with a notable increase among women between the ages of 50 and 75.
The Sister Study is the first study of its kind to look only at sisters of women with breast cancer. Sisters share certain genes and risk factors and sisters of women with breast cancer have a higher risk of getting the disease themselves. More of them will have exposures or genes that may be important for breast cancer. This will make it easier for researchers to identify risk factors for breast cancer.
You can Join the Sister Study if:
- Your sister, related to you by blood, had breast cancer.
- You are between the ages of 35 and 74.
- You have never had breast cancer yourself.
- You are a woman living in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
You can help the Sister Study by spreading the word and volunteering.
Sister Study Walking and Talking Points for Volunteers
To help future generations possibly avoid facing this disease, they joined the effort to find the CAUSES of breast cancer. Please consider joining these champions and the thousands of other African American women participating in the Sister Study.
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner('s Place) ain't got nothing more to say. ~~SjP
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