It is imperative to increase cancer awareness amongst Black Americans. Amongst the U.S. population, Black Americans have the highest mortality rates of any racial and ethnic group – for all cancers combined, and for most major cancers. Cancer awareness is important; it can reduce mortality rates and increase the life expectancy for Black Americans as well as all racial and ethnic groups.
This is an issue close to my heart. A few days ago, the first National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week was launched by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Oncology Centre of Excellence, Project Community to increase cancer awareness among Black Americans. Everyone can participate in this important conversation this week by utilizing the hashtag #BlackFamCan.
There is a lot of information out there, so how can you access trusted resources that can benefit both you and your loved ones? I want to share some of my favorite resources, as recommended by breast cancer patients and medical doctors on my Facebook Live show, Breast Practices.
Patient Resources
Breast Practices airs on social media every Tuesday at 12:30pm ET. We talk about the issues #breastcancer patients, families and friends want to ask questions about: #COVID19 and #cancer, #healthcare disparities, #mammograms and much, much more. Some past episodes that may be helpful include:
Researching Racial Disparities and Breast Cancer
Researcher Mya Roberson studies racial disparities in breast cancer. Watch to learn more about how breast cancer research is undertaken and what it tells us.
Making the Right Choice For You: Lumpectomy or Mastectomy
Dr. Rachel Brem and Dr. Christine Teal of George Washington University Hospital discussed, “Making the Right Choice for You: Lumpectomy or Mastectomy,” an important episode that may be helpful for anyone considering what the right choice is for them.
Breast Practices: Health Inequities and Innovation in Breast Conserving Therapy
Dr. David Weintritt of The George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, and founder of the National Breast Center and National Breast Center Foundation in Washington D.C., explored health inequities and innovation in breast conserving therapy. Tune in for expert advice!
Breast Practices: Radiology’s Role in Health Equity
Dr. Randy C. Miles, MPH – Harvard Medical School Assistant Professor of Radiology, Clinical Service Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital Imaging and Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Alum, discussed Radiology’s Role in Health Equity.
What Breast Cancer Patients Need to Know About the COVID Vaccine
Dr. Patricia Clark MD, LLC of Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers and Terri Coutee, Founder of DiepCFoundation.org, answered questions regarding the #COVID19 vaccine for #breastcancer patients.
Breast Practices: Breaking Down Socio-Economic Barriers to Breast Health
Andrea Wolf, CEO of the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, discussed socioeconomic barriers to breast health.
Saving Lives By Eliminating Health Disparities
Anne Marie Murphy, Executive Director of Equal Hope in Chicago, discussed how they have saved lives by eliminating disparities in healthcare, including breast cancer and cervical cancer.
These blogs address issues and provide resources may also be helpful:
Top Seven Tools and Resources for Coping with Breast Cancer
Breast cancer advocates and patients Mary Morin Carlin and Terri Coutee of DiepCFoundation share resources that have helped them during their treatment and recovery.
Lumpectomy or mastectomy? The support you need to make your decision
If breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, patients will often have to choose whether to undergo a lumpectomy or mastectomy, a decision that can be overwhelming. Consider some tips to cope with the decision-making process as well as stories from people who have faced this choice.
Three Ways to Improve Well-Being Following a Cancer Diagnosis
Tips and advice on how to improve well-being following a cancer diagnosis, received from experts, caregivers, advocates and patients living with breast cancer.
Inspirational Advocates, Patients and Guests
There have been several inspirational guests on #BreastPractices, including For the Breast of Us co-founders Marissa Thomas and Jasmine Souers, who are breast cancer survivors and committed to providing support for women living with breast cancer.
Maimah Karmo is a breast cancer survivor and advocate, best-selling author and founder/CEO of The Tigerlily Foundation. She joined breast cancer survivor and advocate Jamil Kali, founder/CEO of The Chrysalis Initiative, an organization that provides support, resources and counselling for breast cancer patients in order to reduce the impact of disparities in breast cancer outcomes; and breast cancer survivor and advocate Julia Maués on a two-part episode about metastatic breast cancer. Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 – it’s worthwhile to hear everything each guest shared about their individual breast cancer journey.
Every patient’s breast cancer journey is important.
MOLLI Surgical has big plans to support all breast cancer patients to make informed choices about their own care journey. We look forward to launching our H.O.P.E. (Help-Optimism-Positivity-Empowerment) program, built on expert recommended resources, later this year.
We wish everyone well during this inaugural National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week, and look to playing our part in increasing cancer awareness amongst Black Americans and all who are affected by breast cancer.
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Published by:
Fazila Seker
Pres. & CEO at MOLLI Surgical, dedicated to bringing people together for impact in healthcare through medical devices.
Amongst the U.S. population, Black Americans have the highest mortality rates of any racial and ethnic group – for all cancers combined, and for most major cancers. My latest blog outlines some trusted resources that could benefit both you and your loved ones during the inaugural National Black Family Cancer Awareness Week. #BlackFamCan #cancer #breastcancer #bcsm #breastcancerawareness