No More Breast Cancer - One Simple Way To Make A Difference @BreastMilkLab

 

Each year, 19,000 new cases of breast cancer occur among African American women. That’s 19,000 too many. 

According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year survival rate of breast cancer for African American women is 77%, compared to white women's rate of 90%. In addition, African American women are more likely to develop breast cancer at a younger age, and we tend to develop more aggressive tumors, which are harder and more expensive to treat.

Enter Dr. Kathleen Arcaro from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She studies breast cancer by studying breastmilk, which is full of breast cells key in figuring out how breast cancer develops. Over the past ten years she's worked to improve our understanding of breast cancer risk, and her findings may lead to new screening, prevention, and treatment strategies. 

The problem? Black women are underrepresented in the research. As a result, findings that work for white women or women with less aggressive forms of breast cancer, don’t work for the majority of black women grappling with the disease. 

To ensure her findings are applicable to women of all races, she has been working to recruit African American women for the Love/Avon Army of Women, a project aiming to recruit one million women to sign up to participate in breast cancer research (if they choose to do so). By signing up, participants will receive an email newsletter with breast cancer research opportunities. Some research is as simple as a questionnaire or a phone interview. 

Having African American women well represented in the breast cancer research is key, for her research and many others.’ So Dr. Arcaro hopes black women will sign up for the Army of Women (and be sure to select “breast milk study” as the referral type to help track the impact). 

You can learn more about Dr. Arcaro’s work, and see if you or other women you know might qualify for one of her studies, at the website of the UMass Breastmilk Lab, and follow the lab on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

BREAST CANCER DISPARITIES IN ATLANTA Leading Medical Experts and Breast Cancer Survivors "Get to the Root" on Matters Concerning Breast Cancer Treatments, Health Legislation and Prevention

 BREAST CANCER DISPARITIES IN ATLANTA

Leading Medical Experts and Breast Cancer Survivors "Get to the Root" on Matters Concerning Breast Cancer Treatments, Health Legislation and Prevention

  

The Center for Black Women's Wellness and the Black Women's Health Imperative co-host a community forum to address statistics and provide hope and help in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

WHAT: The Center for Black Women's Wellness (CBWW) in partnership with the Black Women's Health Imperative presents a community forum entitled "Getting to the Root: Breast Cancer Disparities in Atlanta." This event seeks to tackle the ongoing dialogue around breast cancer treatments, health legislation, and prevention in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Featuring a panel discussion of notable health professionals and cancer survivors and a performance by singer/songwriter Avery*Sunshine, this event serves as the kick-off to a month of action around breast cancer.

WHO:  "Getting to the Root" has assembled a group of breast cancer specialists, survivors and advocates including-

• JaQuitta Williams, Mistress of Ceremonies: Williams' career in TV news spans nearly 20 years and includes anchoring, reporting, producing and writing. Williams has publicly battled a diagnosis of breast cancer and recently celebrated 5 years of surviving her diagnosis.
• Ebony Steele, Survivor: This national radio personality can be heard sharing the airwaves each morning on the syndicated Rickey Smiley Show. In 2005 Steele joined the masses of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Now a 5-year survivor, Steele serves as a Susan G. Komen Circle of Promise Ambassador and General Mills Pink Together Ambassador.
• Dr. Kimberly Jacob Arriola, PhD, MPH, Panelist: Dr. Arriola is an Associate Professor in the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education. Dr. Arriola's work focuses on improving the health of marginalized populations and communities of color.
• Dr. April Speed, MD, Panelist: Dr. Speed is known as a breast expert and is one of the newest additions to the staff at Dekalb Medical, Hillandale. She provides 100% breast services to women, men and adolescents exclusively at the Hillandale location. Dr. Speed is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology( ASCO) and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Speed is a highly sought-after speaker, author, consultant and lecturer on breast cancer and breast health.
• Amanda Ptashkin, JD, Panelist: Amanda Ptashkin serves as the Outreach and Advocacy Director of Georgians for a Healthy Future. She spent the last three years in Pennsylvania working as the State Health Alliances and Grassroots Director for Pennsylvania and Delaware with the American Heart Association. Ptashkin is a licensed attorney with a passion for health policy and advocacy. 

WHEN: Wednesday, October 10 at 12:30-2:30 p.m.

WHERE:

Morehouse School of Medicine

720 Westview Drive, SW

Atlanta GA 30310

WHY: According to data from the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta has higher than average incidence of breast cancer among African American women as compared to white women. CBWW has long been involved in the fight to provide adequate medical care and early detection to this demographic. "Getting to the Root: Breast Cancer Disparities in Atlanta" unites CBWW with the Black Women's Health Imperative to explore:

1. what is known about breast cancer health disparities between Black women and women of other ethnicities;
2. identify effective strategies for addressing these disparities; and
3. determine how best to disseminate what is known about closing the disparity gap. 

ADDITIONAL NOTE: The event will debut a national PSA developed by the Black Women's Health Imperative, exclusively designed to speak to Black women under 40 regarding early detection and self-exams.  The PSA features singer/songwriter/pianist Avery*Sunshine whose music is a cornucopia of sound and song that seeks to heal. Both in the PSA and in her live performance at "Getting to the Root," Avery*Sunshine provides a musical message of inspiration and hope.

MEDIA COVERAGE:  For event coverage and/or media interview requests with event participants, please contact Valencia Walton, vwalton@brainchildassociates.com or call 678-884-4008, ext. 704.  General public attendance is now closed for this event.  To learn more about CBWW, visit www.cbww.org and to learn more about The Black Women's Health Imperative is www.blackwomenshealth.org.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month – Early Detection is Key.

My college girlfriend was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was in her early twenties. Early detection of the disease allowed the doctors to treat the cancerous areas. She like millions of other women and men are cancer survivors.

The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2010:

- About 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.

- About 54,010 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

- About 39,840 women will die from breast cancer.

Early detection is key, schedule a mammogram and learn the early warning signs of breast cancer.

For more information visit http://ww5.komen.org.