As you all should know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I am a little late with this one, but as the saying goes "better late than never"!Breast cancer is the second leading type of cancer in the deaths of African-American women, claiming roughly 6,000 women's lives. 2007 reports show that 19,000 African-American women were diagnosed with the cancer this past year. Not to mention, we are being diagnosed and dying from this disease more than White women. African-American women have a 77% survival rate whereas White women have a 90% one.
So what do those numbers mean?
We're all aware that a significant number of Black women are living in poverty and cannot afford the treatment for breast cancer, let alone the doctor's visits and mammogram testing. Or simply, they ignore the signs and think "oh it's nothing". Let's be real here, Black women are resilient and usually are juggling a million other things; be it careers, children or caring for other family members--we usually don't have the time to take care of ourselves. We think of ourselves last and everyone first.
Also, many Black women are grossly overweight--this can be attributed to socioeconomic factors of living in areas where healthy food isn't available and, again, lack of healthcare.
And, sometimes, it's simply genetic. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both breast cancer survivors, so that gives my Mom and I a predisposition to it.
If nothing else, suggest to your mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and sisters that they give themselves a breast examination once a month!!!
*For the sake of keeping this site PG, this is as "visual" as it's gonna get*
For instructions click hereSome other ways to support breast cancer research:
Think Pink @ Linens 'N Things
One More Reason to Eat Chocolate: Pink M&M's!
Golf Much? Pink Clubs @ Target
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