Black Women and Breast Cancer; Know the Realities

Among the myriad of diseases and ailments that disparately affect women of color, particularly Black women, breast cancer truly strikes fear in the hearts of women of all ages and backgrounds. There's been a bunch of amazing events and coverage going on throughout October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I know I love my breasts and I can only imagine the pain and fear of women who are faced with a positive prognosis. So here's some information about an important event going on in Harlem this Friday at the famous Hue Man Bookstore which offers information, testimonials and action steps on how to fight breast cancer individually and in our community. Please spread the word and most of all, attend! Thanks to Esther Armah, hostess of WBAI 99.5 FM's "Wake Up Call," who I have had the pleasure of working with on Monday mornings. And of course, kudos to The Lit Leaders, her co-hostesses of this event.

Below I'm also including an article below in which Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women, addresses the social and environmental factors which directly to relate to these disparities and others. Preach!


Hosts: The Lit Leaders: Linda Duggins, Rene Flagler, Rosalind McLymont, Esther Armah
Location: Hue-man Bookstore
2319 Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 125th and 124th Street
Subway: A, C, 2, 3 125th Street, New York, NY 10027 US |
When: Friday, October 24, 6:00PM

'You've got breast cancer; I've found a lump'. A woman hears those words and for a moment her world stops. Join Writers for Real Life Issues: A Focus on Breast Cancer for this call to action to fight breast cancer within black women using information, education, truth and entertainment. Hear from Nayaba Arinde and her personal story. Learn more from the Breast Examination Center in Harlem. Join Us! 6pm sharp to 8pm Hueman Bookstore.


Opinion | Black Women's Breast Cancer Disparities Related to Inadequate Health System, Opinion Piece Says
[Oct 16, 2008] http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=55024

Part of black women's "increased vulnerability to breast cancer is a result of differential access to health care and health services," Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women, writes in a Seattle Medium opinion piece. She notes that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, saying that awareness weeks or months focusing on a particular health issue also should spend some time on the "broader issue of health care and health access." She writes that "as we raise awareness about breast cancer, we must also raise awareness about the ways breast cancer incidence is intertwined with the status of our health care system."

She adds, "Too many African-Americans lack health insurance. Too many wear the stress of racism in poor eating and living habits, and it shows up with obesity, high blood pressure, and the higher incidence of other diseases in our community."

Malveaux writes, "It is not clear why our nation has not galvanized around the health care issue. To be sure, both presidential candidates have ideas about health insurance and health care; their plans are divergent." She calls for universal access to preventive health care services, as well as protections against bankruptcy for people diagnosed with diseases that require costly treatment.

She concludes that the "health care disparities that riddle our system are as present in the realm of breast cancer and in other areas," and black women "must be among those sporting pink ribbons, but beyond the pink ribbons, we must all be passionate advocates for increased health care access, especially in the African-American community" (Malveaux, Seattle Medium, 10/15).

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