But when you look closely at where cancer research is strongest, a pattern emerges that is hard to ignore. The states leading the country in research are not the states where Black Americans live in the greatest numbers. That gap shapes who benefits from the country’s most advanced cancer breakthroughs.

The States Winning the Research Race

SmileHub’s 2026 ranking of the best states for cancer research highlights the places with the deepest research ecosystems. These states have the most researchers per capita, the strongest funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the American Cancer Society (ACS), the highest clinical trial output, and the most robust cancer care infrastructure.

The top 10 states for cancer research are:

1. Massachusetts
2. New York
3. California
4. Pennsylvania
5. Colorado
6. Maryland
7. Oregon
8. Virginia
9. Connecticut
10. Minnesota

The ranking is built on thirteen metrics, including NIH grant funding, ACS funding, clinical trial activity, and hospital quality data from U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Cancer.

Massachusetts leads the list with top scores in both research funding and research output. New York ranks first in health care infrastructure. California sits in the top three across funding, output, and hospital quality. These states have long histories of academic investment, major research universities, and strong philanthropic networks.

But this map tells only one story. The real story is about who lives where.

Where Black America Actually Lives

Neilsberg’s 2025 analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) data shows a clear picture of where Black Americans live today. The five states with the largest Black populations are Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, and California. These states anchor the modern Black population map. Pew Research Center reports that more than half of all Black Americans, about 56 percent, live in the South, which underscores how deeply rooted the population is in this region.

According to Neilsberg’s Black population ranking, Texas has 4,146,550 Black residents, which is 11.66 percent of the state’s population. Florida has 3,900,650, or 15.24 percent. Georgia has 3,648,016, representing 31.27 percent of the state. New York has 3,519,047, and California has 2,841,399.

Together, these five states account for more than 38 percent of all Black Americans.

A Map That Leaves Too Many Behind

The states with the largest Black populations rarely appear near the top of cancer research rankings. Georgia ranks thirty-eight. Florida ranks thirty. Texas ranks twenty-two. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina all fall in the bottom fifteen, even though they are home to some of the country’s most concentrated Black communities.

That gap has real consequences. Black Americans continue to face the highest cancer mortality rates in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. When the strongest research ecosystems are located far from the communities carrying the highest burden, access to clinical trials, specialty care, and advanced treatment becomes uneven by design.

When Distance Becomes a Barrier to Survival

Cancer research is tied to place. Clinical trials usually require in person visits. High quality cancer hospitals cluster in specific regions. Funding from the National Institutes of Health flows to institutions with long established research capacity. Insurance coverage varies by state. These factors shape who gets early detection, who gets advanced treatment, and who gets to participate in the studies that guide national standards of care.

When research is concentrated in the Northeast and West, and the highest burden communities are concentrated in the South, the result is a structural divide.

Black Americans are less likely to live near cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). They are less likely to be offered clinical trial participation. They are less likely to receive proper care. These patterns appear consistently in national cancer disparities reports and peer-reviewed research.

SmileHub did not create these disparities. But when its data is read through a different lens, the gaps reveal themselves with uncomfortable clarity.

What Real Investment Would Look Like

Imagine a South with more NCI designated cancer centers, stronger clinical trial networks, and research universities that anchor long-term investment. A South with increased NIH and ACS funding, deeper community-based research partnerships, better insurance coverage, and high-quality cancer hospitals within reach.

Imagine a research landscape that follows need instead of legacy.

The data points toward a future where investment is measured not only by scientific output, but by who can reach the front door of a research center. A future where breakthroughs are shaped by the communities that carry the highest burden. A future where geography is not destiny.

The Question We Cannot Ignore

The United States is investing billions to end cancer. But unless research infrastructure expands into the states where Black Americans actually live, the benefits of that investment will remain uneven. The communities with the highest cancer burden will continue to be left behind.

The country has the science, the momentum, and the resources to change the story of cancer. What remains uncertain is whether that progress will reach the communities that have carried the heaviest burden for the longest time.

Resources:

Cancer statistics, 2026 – Siegel – 2026 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library

Best States for Cancer Research in 2026

Best Hospitals for Cancer in the U.S. | Rankings & Ratings

States in United States ranked by Black population – 2025 | Neilsberg

Facts About the U.S. Black Population | Pew Research Center

Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025 – Saka – 2025 – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians – Wiley Online Library

The post Cancer Research Isn’t Reaching Black America appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What followed changed everything. The pace of her days. The demands on her body. Her sense of control. But now she’s telling the story herself. She’s a breast cancer survivor, and she’s still here.

The Moment She Feared Had Arrived

Toks had gone years without a full mammogram. Between breastfeeding and the demands of daily life, it stayed on the back burner. After several reminders, her OBGYN became more direct and told her it was time to stop waiting. So, she went.

During the scan, doctors found calcifications. These are tiny calcium deposits that can form in breast tissue. While often harmless, certain patterns can signal early signs of cancer. A biopsy confirmed it in August 2022.

“I was told I had stage zero triple negative breast cancer,” she said.

Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive types. According to the American Cancer Society, it grows quickly and does not respond to hormone therapies because it lacks three common receptors. That limits treatment options and increases the risk of recurrence. Within three weeks, her cancer had already advanced to stage one.

Toks had always feared cancer. It ran deep on her mother’s side with diagnoses across generations. Her father’s side, rooted in Nigeria, had fewer known cases, though she believes there may have been more that went unnamed. So when the biopsy confirmed triple-negative breast cancer, she wasn’t shocked.

“I had been terrified to get cancer my whole life,” she said. “I was almost relieved, honestly, to just know which one it was and get it done.”

Then Came the Reality Check

At just 46 years old, Toks had to shift into survival mode. In September, weeks after her diagnosis, she began treatment with a lumpectomy and radiation. A lumpectomy removes the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. But when the pathology came back, the margins were not clear. That meant cancer cells were still present at the edges. She would need more surgery and chemotherapy.

Before starting chemo, she tried one round of egg fertilization. She and her husband had hoped for a second child. But her gynecologist stepped in.

“He’s like, stop it. Triple negative moves so quickly you’re gonna die,” she said. “I was like, okay, all right, Jesus.”

From Lumpectomy to Mastectomy

After another surgery with no clean margins, her oncological surgeon recommended a mastectomy. A mastectomy removes the entire breast to prevent further spread. Toks chose to remove both.

“She was like, listen, none of this is showing in any of the imaging we did,” she recalled. “We’re not seeing any of what we’re taking out of your body, so it’s making us really nervous.”

She began chemotherapy in early November, just after wrapping Fatal Attraction. The treatment was intense. Every three weeks, she returned for another round.

“I did four rounds of very strong chemo,” said Toks. “A week after I stopped chemo, I started working on Frasier.”

To help protect her hair, she used cold capping. The process involves cooling the scalp during chemotherapy to reduce hair loss, and it worked. Toks was able to keep about 50 percent of her hair.

The Circle That Held Her

Toks kept working, not to prove anything, but because it helped her feel like herself. Work was also essential to Tok’s healing.

“My husband was picking me up from work. My mother was dropping me off,” she said. “I had tons of people helping me carry things. That was a little difficult because I couldn’t carry my kid for a really long time.”

Her sister, best friend, and nanny helped care for her son. Insurance paperwork was handled by her financial manager. On set, her team made space for her to rest when she needed it.

“Sometimes I was like, I need to go upstairs and just rest for 25 minutes,” she said. “And they’d be like, yeah, no worries, we’ll make time for you.”

Parenting Through Treatment

While navigating surgeries and chemotherapy, Toks was also parenting a young child. Her son was still small and still used to their routines. She had to explain why things were changing, why she couldn’t carry him, why their time together looked different.

“We used to call my boobs my boo boos,” she said. “I said, so we can’t do boo boo time anymore, and he was sad, but he understood.”

She approached those conversations with honesty and compassion. She didn’t hide what was happening, but she didn’t overwhelm him either.

“I keep in mind that my kid is new here,” she explained. “I don’t put things on him that he doesn’t deserve.”

Her son responded with kindness. He would come in to chat, then tuck her into bed.

“He’d be like, Mommy, you need your rest,” he’d say.

She believes children know when something is wrong, even if no one tells them.

“I feel like you’re actually just making them more scared and anxious because they don’t know what the thing is,” she said.

Rest Is a Right

Toks spoke directly to the pressure Black women face to keep going no matter what. She spoke about how Black communities are among the most capable in the world.

“Especially Black women. We are versatile, good at problem solving and hard working. And we are insanely intelligent.”

She knows how deeply that pressure can affect health.

“One of the reasons that Black people get sick so much is that we don’t rest,” she said. “We have to stop believing the myth that rest equals laziness.”

A Community Lifeline

For Toks, healing was never just about her body. It was about being part of something larger. She spoke openly about the realities Black people face, and the strength that comes from community.

“I feel like Black people are placed in a position of being stressed out and not being able to give our families what they need,” she said. “We are placed in a position of not being able to live in clean areas, not being able to afford healthy food, not being able to afford health care, not being able to afford to take time off work.”

She named the systems that create those conditions. But she also named the power our communities hold.

“I think that we need to start talking to each other,” she said. “We need to start asking questions. We need to start sharing information.”

Advocacy Begins with Access

Toks now works with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. She is using her voice to push for better access, better care, and better outcomes for Black women.

“Almost half of the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are going to be Black women,” she said. “And one of the reasons for that is the disparity in what is available to us. We are placed in a position of being stressed out and not being able to give our families what they need.”

She has seen the consequences of delayed care and poor insurance firsthand. People she loves have waited far too long for the imaging and procedures they needed. She knows how quickly diseases can spread and how dangerous those delays can be.
She encourages people to ask questions, share what they learn, and help each other navigate the system.

“You need to figure out, as young as you possibly can, what your plan for your health care is,” she said. “If you’re going to somebody and you don’t feel heard, or you feel dismissed, or you feel like you can never get an appointment, find somebody else.”

And she wants Black women to know they matter.

“You need to see yourself and your life as precious,” she said. “We take care of so many other people. We have to be healthy too. Otherwise, we can’t take care of everybody else.”

Resources:

Triple-negative Breast Cancer | Details, Diagnosis, and Signs | American Cancer Society

Breast Cancer Research Foundation | BCRF

Will Scalp Cooling Save Your Hair During Cancer Treatment?

The post Actress & Activist Toks Olagundoye on Surviving Breast Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We spoke with Ricki Fairley, CEO and Co-Founder of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER, about what it means to build care that reflects the truth of Black women’s experiences and what it takes to change the system.

How Breast Cancer Impacts Us Is More Than Just Data Points

“The devastating mortality numbers associated with being Black and diagnosed with breast cancer are so much more than just data points, they validate a wholly different lived experience and disease,” said Ricki Fairley.

“Most people, when they picture breast cancer, picture an older white woman. And everything about breast cancer care has oriented around that perceived ‘typical’ patient. Black women have been largely left out of the conversation.”

Fairley defines Black Breast Cancer as “the constellation of exposures, experiences, and lack of science for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer that causes Black women to face disproportionately worse breast cancer outcomes.”

How TNBC Affects Our Community

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a fast-growing subtype of breast cancer that doesn’t respond to hormone therapies or targeted treatments. It’s much harder to treat, more likely to return, and disproportionately affects Black women, especially those under 40.

“We now have data that validates that the biology of a Black TNBC breast cancer cell looks significantly different from a white breast cancer cell,” Weldon said. “The treatments that we currently have available were based on clinical trials where the patient participation was not commensurate with the burden of disease.”

In other words, Black women are underrepresented in the very trials that shape today’s treatments, despite facing the highest risks.

TOUCH launched BlackTNBCSanctuary.org in 2024, a TNBC resource created by the community, for the community. Unite for HER expanded access to its Wellness Passport Program, offering integrative therapies, nutrition support, and community care.

“This wrap-around approach ensures that, even in the face of limited medical options, the women we serve are seen, supported, and given the care they need to truly live well,” Weldon said.

Unite for HER’s model is built around restoring quality of life. Patients receive therapies that ease side effects, reduce stress, and help them reclaim joy in their days. The program also fosters community, offering a space where women feel seen and supported.

The Care for HER Model is Designed Especially for Us

Care for HER is a new delivery model for Black breast cancer care. Co-created by TOUCH and Unite for Her, it fuses two proven systems. Patients receive round-the clock nurse navigation rooted in cultural experience, along with integrative therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition counseling, and wellness support. These services are now offered as one unified program, available nationwide and free of charge.

“We asked, what if we combined resources?” said Weldon. “We created a comprehensive approach to help Black women better access and adhere to their treatments. At the same time, we knew it was vital to amplify education about the stark health disparities, most notably that Black women die from breast cancer at a 40% higher rate than white women.”

Why Black Nurse Navigators Are Critical

In 1990, Dr. Harold Freeman created patient navigation to reduce delays in care for Black breast cancer patients. TOUCH Co-Founder Valarie Worthy, a longtime nurse and survivor, trained under Freeman.

“You have to have walked this path, both culturally and medically, to truly understand what it feels like,” said Fairley. “For patients, this is an unparalleled resource, to be understood, to have a trusted expert in their corner, and to see someone who has survived this disease.”

Today, Black women still receive later diagnoses and face a 40 percent higher mortality rate than white women. Most have never encountered a nurse navigator, and even fewer have access to one who shares their lived experience. TOUCH’s program fills that gap with culturally grounded guidance and 24/7 support, because cancer doesn’t care what time it is.

Spotting Access Barriers

The barriers to timely, equitable breast cancer care are layered. Obstacles such as dismissal by doctors at young ages, earned medical mistrust, and the inability to take time off work, among others, are major roadblocks. “There are too many barriers blocking access to care for Black patients to count,” said Fairley.

“Black women under age 35 get breast cancer at twice the rate of white women and die at three times the rate. The screening guideline of age 40 is too late for us.”

Clinical trial participation stays low because Black patients are rarely invited. When they are, it’s often during a crisis, like right after a diagnosis. Some women fear they’ll be denied real treatment. In clinical trials, a sugar pill refers to a placebo, a harmless fake treatment used for comparison. “Many of the Black Blessties who participated in our research mistakenly thought they were going to get a sugar pill and die,” Fairley said.

TOUCH uses the term Blesstie to describe a Black woman diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s a term that honors survival, sisterhood, and support.

Building Impact and Equity

“This growth reflects the importance of forming meaningful referral partnerships,” said Weldon. “We work with hospitals, cancer centers, and community organizations that share our mission. When these partnerships come together, the impact is profound. The metrics clearly affirm the value of this approach in advancing equitable care.”

That impact requires sustained investment. “At Unite for HER, we cannot keep up with the growing demand for our program without it,” Weldon said. “Each woman we serve receives $2,000 in integrative therapies and services. We’re proud to offer these resources. We have to raise the full amount every year.” TOUCH’s 24/7 navigation also depends on funding. “We wish we could offer it to everyone,” Fairley said.

“No woman should have to search for these resources or worry about how to afford them. They should be seamlessly built into every treatment plan,” Weldon said. Fairley added, “Until clinical trials reflect the burden of disease, we won’t get drugs that truly treat Black Breast Cancer.”

The vision is clear. Weldon said, “A future without Black breast cancer disparities is one where no woman feels unseen, unheard or dismissed.” She added, “True equality would be transformative.” Fairley shares that hope. “We don’t want anyone to die of breast cancer. But we do want to close the survival gap for Black women.”

This is where equity really begins.

Resources:

Touch BBCA

Unite for HER | Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Support & Services

Home Page – Black TNBC Sanctuary

Your Wellness Passport | Unite For HER: Helping to Empower and Restore Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Nationwide

Care for HER | Unite For HER: Helping to Empower and Restore Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients Nationwide

Blesstie Love – Touch BBCA

The post Care for HER: A New Model for Black Breast Cancer Support appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Reed Was Impacted by Breast Cancer Early in Life

Reed says her dance with breast cancer began when she was just 18. “My mother, who had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease, lost her battle when she was 40,” Reed says.

But the pain of that kind of loss revisited her family. When her younger sister was diagnosed with the same aggressive form of breast cancer. This was the first glamour shoot Reed did for a woman living with breast cancer. “It brought her such joy,” Reed says. Unfortunately, she passed away at age 38.

“Then, at age 33, my older sister was also diagnosed, but miraculously, she continues to fight her own battle,” the photographer adds.

Her  Diagnosis, Her Own Story

“Our family history was a stark reminder of the importance of early detection and being vigilant,” Reed says. “I have always been proactive about my health, especially regarding breast cancer.”

Reed, who was a breast imaging tech doing mammograms before she became a successful photographer, says, “I started getting mammograms at 30 and kept up with them religiously for nearly 15 years. It went from routine to reality in November of 2021. “I received an unexpected callback for additional images and, of course, anxiety set in,” Reed says. Soon, she faced the daunting prospect of a biopsy.

“The irony was that I had spent over 15 years working in breast imaging and was now on the other side of the exam table,” Reed adds.

Black Women and Breast Cancer By the Numbers

As the rates of breast cancer overall are going down, rates of aggressive and invasive breast cancer in Black and Brown women continue to rise, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). According to BCRF, in 2025, more than 319,750 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 59,080 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (also known as stage 0 breast cancer) will be diagnosed in women in the United States. While there has been an overall 44 percent decline in breast cancer deaths since 1989—thanks to gains in awareness, earlier diagnoses, and more effective treatments—there is a persistent mortality gap between Black women and white women.

Reed’s Diagnosis and Treatment

“My diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma, Stage 1, Triple Positive – considered one of the more manageable forms of breast cancer,” Reed says. “I was given the option of 12 weeks of chemotherapy, and if I chose a mastectomy, I could avoid radiation.” The photographer chose that form of treatment and has had five surgeries to date.

“While I couldn’t control my diagnosis, I could control my attitude and approach to this challenging journey.”

The mom, wife, and sister says, that her strong faith helped her navigate the treatment that got her through to the other side. She says the support of her husband and two teen sons was invaluable. “I held a steadfast belief that I was healthy, before each test, and that I would remain healthy. My body was, and still is, a remarkable healing machine,” she adds.

Making Breast Cancer Patients Feel Beautiful is Even More Important to Her Now

Reed has also remained focused on bringing beauty and joy to other women living with breast cancer through her photography, even while she was still in treatment.

She never forgot the joy that the experience of being a cover girl gave her sister. The aspiring creative partnered with the local Breast Cancer Resource Center of Central Texas to conduct the photo shoots. “I have the nonprofit choose the women who will participate, and I bring together a team that pampers them and creates legacy photos for them and their family.” I am honored to be a part of their journey.

Even though Reed acknowledges that her journey hasn’t been easy, she says, My breast cancer journey has also been marked by resilience, hope, and a strong mindset.

“I hope my story inspires other women facing similar battles to stay positive, proactive, and determined,” she says.

Resources

Breast Cancer Resource Fund

Understanding Ductal Cancer Carcinoma in Situ

Stage 1 Triple Positive Breast Cancer

The post Seeing Breast Cancer Through a New Lens appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 20,890 newly diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer in 2025, and 12,730 women will die from the disease. An estimated one woman in 91 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime.

According to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance, the condition is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 55 and 64.

Ovarian Cancer By the Numbers

When one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. Due to ovarian cancer’s non-specific symptoms and lack of early detection tests, only 20 percent of all cases are diagnosed at this early stage. If caught in stage III or higher, the survival rate can be as low as 30.6 percent.

Due to the nature of the disease, each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile, and it is impossible to provide a general prognosis. The five-year ovarian cancer survival rate for white women is 50.6%; in Black patients, it’s 43.2%.

How Ovarian Cancer Impacts Black Women

The journal Obstetrics & Gynecology Health Disparities in Ovarian Care did a deep dive into the differences between Black, white, Asian, and Native American populations, Hispanic populations, when it came to diagnosis, care, and mortality. They looked at several years, going back to 1985.

Black patients overall and any other patient with a low socioeconomic background had worse outcomes.

“Black patients had 17–18% worse survival compared with White patients. Potential explanations include earlier age and later stage at diagnosis and disparities across the entire care continuum of ovarian cancer: diagnosis, treatment, and precision testing.”

Other factors that impacted treatment, according to this literature review, included the type of insurance the patient had. If it is non-private, the patient is less likely to have received the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline-concordant ovarian cancer treatment. This resulted in a 10% increase in the patient’s mortality risk. Non-private insurance also impacts access to genetic testing.

If patients lived in rural areas, who didn’t want to travel, or were treated in a lower volume hospital by a surgeon doing fewer surgeries, they received 16-31% NCCN guideline-concordant ovarian cancer treatment.

Bottom line: it is not as simple as a late diagnosis. It is who is treating us, and where we are treated. And if we are getting the correct protocols.

Who is at Risk For Ovarian Cancer?

According to the Ovarian Research Alliance, about 25% of ovarian cancer cases diagnosed are hereditary. And they can be primarily traced to BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene mutations (Black women can also have them). The connection is usually a history of breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
• Family history of ovarian, breast, uterine, or colorectal cancer.
• A personal history of cancer or endometriosis
• Early menstruation, no childbirth, first childbirth after 30, late menopause, no oral contraceptives, or infertility increase the risk.
• HRT: Long-term use increases risk, especially with combined estrogen and progestin.
• Obesity is associated with a higher ovarian cancer risk, especially post-menopause.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures Report states, “Some women at high risk because of a strong family history or inherited genetic mutations may consider preventive surgery to remove both ovaries and fallopian tubes (prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy), which greatly reduces risk.”

 What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the ovaries. An ovary is one of two small, almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that store eggs or germ cells and produce female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

According to The American Cancer Society, however, the disease was previously believed to start only in the cells of the ovaries. But ovarian cancer may also begin in the fallopian tubes.

Types of Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

The majority of ovarian cancers are categorized here (85-90%) and can start in the cells of the fallopian tube or the ovaries. The cells are further classified based on genetic analysis into the following categories:

• High-grade serous carcinoma (This is the most common type.)
• Low-grade serous carcinoma
• Endometrioid carcinoma
• Clear cell carcinoma
• Mucinous carcinoma

Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

This is a rare cancer that is related to epithelial ovarian cancer. However, it may have spread to the abdomen.

Fallopian Tube Cancer

Fallopian tube cancer is similar to epithelial ovarian cancer and often spreads to the ovary and peritoneum.

Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) are a group of tumors that originate either from the sex cord or stromal cells:

• Sex cord cells are a type of epithelial cell that eventually develop into ovaries (in females) and testes (in males).
• Stromal cells form the connective tissue that gives the ovaries structure.

Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors

Most ovarian germ cell tumors are benign, but some are cancerous and may be life-threatening. Less than 2% of ovarian cancers are germ cell tumors.

• Dysgerminoma is rare; it is the most common ovarian germ cell cancer.

What Are the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect, especially in the early stages. This is partly because these two small, almond-shaped organs are deep within the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the uterus.

According to the Mayo Clinic, these are some of the potential signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Quickly feeling full when eating
• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Weight loss
• Feeling the need to urinate urgently or often
• Fatigue
• Discomfort in the pelvic area
• Back pain
• Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation

Make an appointment with your HCP if your symptoms are persistent.

Getting Evaluated By Your HCP

Your HCP may need to perform several tests before there is a conclusive diagnosis. They may include:

• A pelvic exam
• Blood tests. The most common tumor marker is a blood test called the CA-125.
• Genetic tests
• Surgery

If Your Results Come Back Positive

Consult a gynecologic oncologist immediately. They may want to review your current test and order additional ones, along with the results. However, the only way to more accurately confirm ovarian cancer is with a biopsy, a procedure in which the doctor takes a sample of the tumor and examines it under a microscope.

Getting Diagnosed

Make the most of your appointment. Come with some questions ready after the initial shock has worn off. Or bring a supportive wingperson with you. A significant other, sister, BFF, or work friend, let them ask the questions you have scribbled in your notebook. But we’ve got a cheat sheet down below to get you started, and you can add more from here.

• What type of ovarian cancer do I have?
• Has my cancer spread beyond the ovaries?
• What is the cancer’s stage (extent), and what does that mean?
• Will I need other tests before we can decide on treatment?
• Will I be able to have children after my treatment?

• Should I think about genetic testing?
• What are my clinical trial options?
• This is overwhelming. Where can I find support?

Partner With Your HCP

After your diagnosis, you’ll partner with your oncologist to choose a customized treatment plan that works for you. The treatment will vary based on the stage of the disease, your age, and your health condition. The ACS points out that most ovarian cancer patients may require surgery. But depending on the type of ovarian cancer and how advanced it is, you might need other types of treatment as well, either before or after surgery, or sometimes both.

Treatment Options May Include:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Targeted Drug Therapy
• Hormone Therapy
• Immonotherapy

Consider Genetic Testing

In an article in Nature, Sophia George explores solutions for why Black women have lower survival rates and higher rates of recurrence. In examining data from the NCI, she noticed that we have higher rates of rarer cancers.

“Black women are more likely to have germ-cell and stromal-cell tumours, and less likely to have epithelial ovarian cancers,” she wrote. Despite these differences, new approaches to clinical care — including genomic medicine — are underutilized in this population. ”

Then there are new treatments like PARP inhibitors, but when only 1.6% participants in the trial are, George says, “the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in Black women remains poorly characterized.”

Finally, she notes that Black patients are less likely to have their tumors analyzed. “This exacerbates disparities in the treatment that they receive and limits cancer-prevention opportunities in family members.”

Using Black women’s poorer response to platinum-based chemotherapy as an example, George believes that genetics may play a role. She argues that there is a similar type of inherited breast and ovarian gene variant in West African, Black American, and white women.

“But certain subpopulations of Black women³ experience hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndromes at rates comparable to or greater than those seen in the Ashkenazi Jewish population, which has considerably higher rates of these cancers than the global average.”

We do know some families within our communities that have been hit hard by breast and ovarian cancers. They could benefit from genetic testing.

Five Preventive Strategies to Fight Ovarian Cancer

Genetic testing also provides insights that enable individuals to identify preventive measures they can take to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. Here are five that the ORA suggests:

• Using oral contraception for five or more years can reduce ovarian cancer risk by 50%.
• Multiple pregnancies or your first full-term birth by age 26 reduces your risk, and breastfeeding does, too.
• Removal of your Fallopian tubes (Bilateral Salpingectomy). It reduces the risk of cancer forming in the fallopian tubes while preserving fertility with the help of IVF.
• Removal of Fallopian Tubes and Ovaries Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy significantly reduces risk. There is a slight chance you can still get a rare kind of ovarian cancer.  Especially beneficial when performed by age 35-40 for women with BRCA1 mutations or by age 40-45 for those with BRCA2 mutations.
• Hysterectomy and Tubal Ligation: Hysterectomy may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 33%, and tubal ligation by up to 67%.

Resources:

American Cancer Society: Types of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Research Alliance: Prevention and Risks 

Mayo Clinic: Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Health Disparities in Ovarian Care

The post The Silent Killer: Black Women & Ovarian Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Engaging in drinking and driving is a sign of “problem drinking,” something that can deeply harm Black women’s physical health due to its adverse side effects.

You Can Have A Problem With Drinking Without Having A Drinking Problem

Being a person who identifies as an alcoholic and being a person grappling with problem drinking or alcohol abuse are not synonymous. Huger, for example, said plainly, “I’m not an alcoholic, let’s be clear,” during a clip that aired during the reunion episode of The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Huger chose to enroll in a Florida treatment center before her sentencing; the show did not specify the type of treatment center. She cited a desire to “get to the bottom” of “taking antidepressants and drinking” as her reasoning for taking that action.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that “Combining alcohol with certain medications, particularly those with sedative effects, can increase the risk of adverse events.”

RHOP’s Grand Dame is not the only Black woman in the public eye with challenges connected to alcohol. Ari Lennox has shared that she is sober. Paula Patton credited alcohol with introducing and festering a level of “chaos” in her life. Naomi Campbell has been open about her commitment to staying sober.

What Is Alcohol Abuse?

According to a 2024 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), alcohol abuse is rising among women in the United States. There has been a rise in alcohol related deaths in the past seven years, including traffic accidents. Traditionally, men have had higher rates of alcohol abuse, but women are increasing their usage.

Alcohol abuse is the continued use of alcohol with negative consequences. If your health, finances, or social life is hurt by alcohol use, then you might be abusing it. Excessive drinking can lead to Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), a serious issue. This is not a one-size-fits-all problem. “Unhealthy alcohol use ranges from mild to severe,” per the Mayo Clinic. The ranges of AUD include categories like problem drinking, binge drinking, and excessive drinking. Each can cause problems in its own way.

The threshold for meeting alcohol abuse is not as apparent as that of substance abuse, which includes illegal drugs. Alcohol is a social drug that gets glorified. It disappears into wine mom culture and cocktail mixers. “Drinking is more subtle. So, it makes it harder for you to identify and recognize that difference,” Sober Black Girls Club co-founder told ESSENCE in 2023. But alcohol is still a drug with serious side effects. Some people are engaging in sober curious behavior to evaluate the role of alcohol in their lives.

How Does Alcohol Abuse Impact Black Women?

Physical effects of alcohol abuse can take a higher toll on Black women. It causes inflammation, weakens the immune system, and hurts the liver. Some of the more serious physical effects include a higher risk of certain cancers. Studies have found that women are more sensitive to alcohol related brain damage than men.

Women compared to men suffer a greater number and severity of health consequences attributed to AUD,” and “The burden of adverse health attributed to Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) is higher among Black compared to White women,” per the Journal of Biodemography and Social Biology.

“African American women experience high prevalence of alcohol-related consequences,” and “are disproportionately affected by negative alcohol-related outcomes,” according to the Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

Alcohol consumption has been identified as a risk factor for breast cancer, as well. This is particularly troubling for Black women, who have a higher breast cancer mortality rate.

What Are The Alcohol Abuse Risk Factors?

Prolonged stress and childhood trauma can increase one’s chances of developing alcohol use disorder. Risk factors for alcohol abuse can include genetic factors, too. In some studies, parental alcohol use can predict the alcohol use of children.

Age is a risk factor. Young people are at the highest risk from 18 to 21, but seniors are facing challenges they didn’t face recently. “Heavy drinking and AUD are least common among adults aged 65 and older compared to other age groups, but rates have been increasing,” according to the Journal of Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.

Can Generational Trauma Factor Into Alcohol Abuse?

When Huger was arrested, body cam footage was recorded that featured her stating that she was Thomas Jefferson’s concubine. That may have been a coded reference to racial trauma. “The relationships between trauma and SUDs can be more pronounced in minoritized women, such as Black and Indigenous women, who must also navigate societal oppression and discrimination due to race/ethnicity and sex/gender,” according to the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.

What Treatment Options Are Available For Alcohol Abuse?

There are a variety of treatments available for alcohol abuse, including therapy. Inpatient treatment options, like the type of facility Huger checked into, and outpatient treatment options have been proven effective.

Medications are on the market to aid in the treatment of alcohol use disorder as well.

Resources

Social vs Problem Drinking Defined

Alcohol-Medication Interactions

Deaths From Excessive Alcohol Use 

Journal of Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Science

Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment.

Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.

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Spencer’s First Role Was in the Movie Serpico

According to Deadline, Danielle Spencer was born on June 24, 1965. Her mother, Cheryl, raised her along with her stepfather, Tim Pelt. Spencer began acting at seven, appearing in  Serpico and Harry and Tonto. She landed the role of Dee, Raj’s little sister, at age 11 in What’s Happening, a sitcom loosely based on the film Cooley High.

The Young Actress Was a Breakout Star

But in the show, Spencer played Dee, who was the sassy younger sister of Roger “Raj” Thomas (played by Ernest Thomas) and the daughter of Mabel (played by Mable King). She was most known for her signature phrase, “Ooooh, I’m gonna tell Mama!”

What’s Happening!! Aired for the first time in 1976, as a four-week summer series before returning in November and then for another two seasons.

“I had never seen any young black girl in that type of spotlight, so I didn’t have a reference point in the media as to how to deal with this opportunity,” she told Jet magazine in 2014. “I was from the Bronx. What I did was use my own family as the reference on how to portray my character.”

A Tragic Car Accident Left Her in a Coma

Sadly, during the second season of production, Spencer and her stepfather were involved in a five-car accident. They were returning from seeing the movie, Star Wars.

Unfortunately, Tim Pelt was killed. And the actress fell into a coma for three weeks. InSpencer had an additional six months of physical therapy to recover.

Becoming Doctor Spencer

After What’s Happening!! and their spinoff, What’s Happening Now, were cancelled, Spencer decided on her next act. She attended UC Davis and earned a degree in veterinary science. She went on to Tuskegee University Veterinary School in Tuskegee, Alabama to become a veterinarian in 1993.

Dr. Spencer worked as a veterinarian in California for two decades before relocating to Virginia. When she got to her new city, she was back in front of the cameras. Dr.Spencer ran a pet-care segment for CBS affiliate WTVR-TV.

Dr.Spencer’s Health Challenges

In the early aughts, she developed a spinal condition that left her paralyzed for several months. But in 2014, Dr. Spencer was diagnosed with breast cancer. As a result of her diagnosis, she underwent a double mastectomy.

In 2018, she had emergency surgery to remove a bleeding hematoma—a result of the car accident that killed her stepfather. Unfortunately, she no longer had health insurance. Her loved ones launched a GoFundMe to cover Dr. Spencer’s medical expenses.

Dr. Spencer is survived by her mother and brother, Jeremy, a jazz musician.

 

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“She’s free, and in His heavenly arms,” Emory wrote beside a series of broken heart emoji symbols. “Lord, rest her soul,” Emory added.

Remembering Ananda’s Treasured Voice

Lewis was one of the most significant voices in the ’90s and early aughts culture. She hosted The Ananda Lewis Show and co-hosted the popular video request series Total Request Live (TRL) on MTV. She also hosted the iconic BET series Teen Summit, where she tackled serious topics relevant to teenagers with compassion. She brought a fun, frothy energy to pop culture topics. Lewis interviewed some of the top names in entertainment, including Brandy, Mary J. Blige, and Destiny’s Child.

She respected her interview subjects and did her research. Her work helped cement cultural touchstones like MTV’s Spring Break and the NAACP Image Awards.

Ananda’s Breast Cancer Battle

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death for Black women in the United States.

“Black women have a higher incidence of breast cancer before the age of 40, more severe disease at all ages, and elevated mortality risk compared to white women,” according to a 2016 journal article published by The American Cancer Society. Black women have also received inconsistent screening recommendations. The Journal of the American Medical Association strongly suggested that Black women begin screening for breast cancer eight years earlier than their counterparts.

Lewis revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in an Instagram post in October 2020. She used her platform to raise awareness and encourage women to get regular mammograms during breast cancer awareness month.

 

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“This is tough for me, but if just ONE woman decides to get her mammogram after watching this, what I’m going through will be worth it,” she wrote in the caption for a six-minute video where she walked her followers through her diagnosis and treatment journeys.

Her diagnosis came after a self-examination she conducted after choosing not to get screened routinely.

“If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40, they would have caught the tumor in my breast years before I caught it through my own breast exam, self-exam, and thermography,” she said in the video.

Other Black celebrities, including Monyetta Shaw-Carter and Tina Knowles, have publicly shared their fights with breast cancer to raise awareness as well. Knowles revealed that her stage one cancer might have been detected earlier had she not chosen to skip mammograms.

Lewis commented on her battle with breast cancer during an interview for the January/February 2025 issue of ESSENCE magazine as well. She explained that she questioned the medical advice she was given initially after seeing what breast cancer treatments had done to others in her family. She opted to seek treatment at an integrative facility and make extreme lifestyle changes, including eliminating sugar from her diet and doing a cleanse.

“My goal was to do things that supported my body’s ability to continue to be whole enough to heal, instead of destroying it up front,” Lewis told Victoria Uwumarogie. “ I also couldn’t figure out how to fit the double mastectomy, the full chemotherapy, and, potentially, the radiation they were telling me to have into my already overwhelmed life. More importantly, these methods went against what I believed was right for my body.

Reassessing Assumptions About Access To Care

“Structural and personal factors continue to create barriers to mammography among Black women” and “The more advanced breast cancer stage at diagnosis in Black women when compared with the general population has been largely attributed to inequities in access to quality health care, including screening mammography,” according to the Journal of Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice.

Some assume that every person they see on television has access to unlimited resources, but that is not always the case. Despite her fame and impact, Lewis faced struggles gaining access to the care she needed.

She described the financial barriers she faced following her stay at the integrative facility during her interview with ESSENCE.

“There are no residual checks. I’m a working single mom, and insurance doesn’t cover most of these treatments. When I got back, I was given a set of instructions for things I had to continue doing. But the money problem is a recurring problem. I struggled to pay for the ongoing treatments that would have kept things at bay, and then I lost my insurance,” continued Lewis.

This prolonged her path to receiving the appropriate care. The COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions also impacted her ability to receive proper treatment. When she was ready to do surgery, non-emergency surgeries were not being scheduled due to concerns about the pandemic spreading.

“It was two and a half years before I could really do any more effective treatment,” she added.

Lewis continued to advocate for others throughout her life, frequently spreading the message that others should undergo screening.

Lewis is survived by Emory and her 14-year-old son, Langston. Our sincere condolences and prayers are with the loved ones of Lewis.

 

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Resources

Johns Hopkins University Press/Journal of Healthcare for the Poor and Underserved

American Cancer Society: Understanding and Effectively Addressing Cancer in Black Women

The Journal of the Medical Association.

Journal of Policy and Nursing Practice

The post Ananda Lewis, the Former TV Host & VJ Has Died at 52 appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Shaw-Carter shared her experience candidly. After taking a private approach to seeking treatment for her breast cancer, the mom and entrepreneur wants to raise awareness by sharing what she went through. She rang the bell on May 2, 2025, after 16 rounds of radiation.

Her First Breast Cancer Scare

“I had a biopsy about 10 years ago and it came back benign,” said Shaw-Carter. Her eventual 2024 diagnosis came after the result of a self-examination.

“Then last year in September I was doing a self-check because I felt this random sensation that I can’t really describe in my left boob. It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It was literally like my body was alerting me that something was wrong,” she continued.

There are conflicting medical opinions about the merits of self-breast exams. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Being familiar with how your breasts look and feel can help you notice symptoms such as lumps, pain, or changes in size that may be of concern.”

In Shaw-Carter’s case, conducting a self-examination was helpful. The exam revealed to her that something had changed in her body prior to her meeting with a doctor. She prioritized getting further testing.

 Necessary Screenings Were Done Quickly

The following month, she got a mammogram that revealed she was dealing with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma. This kind of breast cancer is extremely common. Patients diagnosed with this kind of cancer have many treatment options available.

Shaw-Carter opted for a lumpectomy and radiation after reviewing the methods that could work for her specific situation. Unlike a full mastectomy, a lumpectomy involves removing the cancerous tissue inside the breasts as opposed to removing the entire breast from the body.

She Considered Her Options and Did Genetic Testing Before Making a Treatment Decision

While doing all of the biopsies and MRIs, I was first considering having a double mastectomy. But after my genetic testing came back favorable, and after sitting in my reality for some time, I decided on the lumpectomy,” said Shaw-Carter.

Those who do not routinely receive mammograms are more likely to be diagnosed in stage 3 or 4. Shaw-Carter advocated for taking a proactive approach to getting regular screenings.

“Because I caught the cancer early, I will be here for my kids,” she said. “There’s nothing more important than getting checked often and early to protect your future. Our health is irreplaceable.”

Early detection is important in all breast cancer cases, but studies indicate that it is even more crucial for Black women, who are significantly more likely to lose their lives from it. The Journal of Breast Cancer Research reports that “Breast cancer mortality rates are 40% higher in Black women compared to White women.” For Black women over the age of 50, the disparity in survival rates is even higher.

 Having Breast Cancer Can be Mentally and Emotionally Taxing.

Breast cancer impacts more than the body. It can have a severe mental and emotional toll. “It is a challenging disease that induces a crisis in the patient’s psychological balance and is perceived as a disaster in the eyes of the patient,” according to The Journal of Breast Health. Breast cancer, because of its association with traditional expectations of femininity, can compound these non-physical side effects even further.
Shaw-Carter described how she initially felt about her diagnosis. “It was obviously one of the hardest and scariest moments of my life,” she said. “Everything around me stopped. My heart dropped. I was afraid. I was angry. I was just numb,” she added.

She posted about her current state of mind in a recent Instagram post celebrating her 45th birthday, in which she wore a pink column gown adorned with rectangle-shaped crystals. It was a carousel post. She wore pink boxing gloves, pink boxing trunks, and a pink satin robe in another picture, symbolizing her fight against breast cancer during the previous year of her life.

As a Survivor, Shaw-Carter is Grateful to Be Here.

Shaw-Carter described herself as “stronger than ever” and expressed gratitude for those who supported her throughout the journey, including her family, friends, and the healthcare workers who cared for her.

“This birthday is more than candles and cake…it’s a celebration of life, a reflection of pain & purpose, of healing, and God’s grace. I’ve faced one of the biggest battles of my life… and I WON!!!”

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Resources:

University of Rochester: Breast Self-Exams Are No Longer Recommended- Here’s What to Do Instead.

Centers for Disease Control: Screening for Breast Cancer

National Cancer Foundation/Invasive Ductal Carcinoma

Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Black Women and Cancer Disparities: Why They Exist and How to End Them.

The Journal of Breast Cancer Research (Addition of polygenic risk score to a risk calculator for prediction of breast cancer in US Black women)

The Journal for Breast Health (Psychiatric Symptoms and Psychosocial Problems in Patients with Breast Cancer)

The post Monyetta Shaw-Carter Shares Her Breast Cancer Battle appeared first on Black Health Matters.

King noted that the American Cancer Society recommends a mammogram every one to two years for women over 55. Knowles missed hers during the COVID pandemic and forgot to reschedule it until last year. And that’s when doctors found two tumors. One was benign, the other had Stage One cancer.

“It was Stage One, which I thought was the earliest stage. But when I told my sister, she said no, there’s actually a stage 0.’ If I had gone for my mammogram, they would have caught it in the zero stage. Thank God, it was very small and it hadn’t spread.”

Knowles had a very slow spreading cancer and chose a lumpectomy procedure to remove the tumor from her left breast. She told King how all her girls came to the hospital, told her jokes, and showed her videos to make her laugh.

“But then I thought about the song ‘Walk With Me,’ that they used to sing all the time,” she said, getting emotional.”Michelle wasn’t there, Solange filled in, Angie sang, and they sang “Walk With Me.” It’s about God walking with you and protecting you.” Knowles said she felt protected as she walked into the surgery.

Last October, Knowles was honored as Glamour’s Woman of the Year, but she was almost unable to attend because of a complication after surgery. She contracted a terrible infection.

In her acceptance speech, she said, “I’ve been so blessed in my life to do many things.  I’ve had many careers. But I’ve always said that the best job that I’ve had in my life is being a mother. I’ve had the privilege of raising and helping to raise four daughters. Two that were born to me, and two that were a gift to me from God. You know, I was somewhat of a rebellious teen and young adult, and I didn’t always follow the rules, but the day that I became a mother, I decided that this was the one thing that wouldn’t screw up.”

Ms. Knowles has a little anxiety putting her book into the world to be scrutinized because people always have something to say. She said her book was initially 1,000 pages, and she had to whittle things down. “I hope people will be inspired by the things I have overcome.”

Note: In 2021, Ms Knowles’ ex-husband, Matthew, revealed his breast cancer diagnosis. 

 

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Wenora Johnson, President, Board of Directors

Wenora’s journey into advocacy started with a life-altering diagnosis. “My goal at that time was just to survive,” she recalls, reflecting on her stage 3b colorectal cancer diagnosis at age 44. It wasn’t until a genetic test revealed Lynch syndrome that the full scope of her situation became clear.

Lynch syndrome, also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal (colon) cancer. “It had actually been sitting there for 15 years,” she realized, stressing the importance of knowing your family history and getting early screenings.

The genetic testing experience became a defining moment, leading Wenora to FORCE. “Testing positive for being a Lynch syndrome carrier highlighted the importance of understanding one’s genetic risks”, she explains. Wenora started as a peer navigator, supporting others facing similar diagnoses.

Her involvement with FORCE expanded, leading to her serving on the board and eventually becoming board president. “These people are genuine scientists and geneticists behind the scenes, providing information to help individuals make choices,” she emphasizes, highlighting FORCE’s commitment to reliable information.

Much of her advocacy work centers on dispelling misconceptions about clinical trials and encouraging greater participation from people of color. “If we don’t, then we lose,” she states. Representation in research is vital. Her experience participating in a Lynch syndrome vaccine trial reemphasizes her commitment to ‘walk the walk.’

“FORCE is that beacon of light when we’re looking for information,” she concludes, again stressing the organization’s role in breaking down barriers, providing accurate information, and empowering individuals to take control of their health. She wants to ensure that future generations, including her grandchildren, can access reliable resources and support.

Verinda Hobbs,  Partnerships Strategy Manager

Her connective story began with her sister’s breast cancer diagnosis in 1993, at just 28 years old, and at a time when it was common for the medical community to overlook the possibility of a cancer diagnosis because of her age. This wasn’t just a family tragedy; it was a wake-up call. Her family realized they didn’t talk about health history enough, and doctors weren’t asking the right questions. “We don’t know if she hadn’t been so young, or if she hadn’t been Black, if there would have been different treatment options offered to her,” she says, highlighting how crucial it is to be your own advocate. Unfortunately, Verinda’s sister lost her battle with breast cancer a few years later, at age 32.

Then, the discovery of a BRCA1 gene mutation in a cousin prompted a deeper dive into their family’s health history, revealing a pattern of aggressive cancers.

This led Verinda and another sister to undergo genetic testing, confirming their own BRCA1 carrier status. “In a way, having a gene mutation almost gives you…the ability to chart my own destiny,” she explains, highlighting her proactive approach to managing her genetic risks. This included preventative surgeries and vigilant screenings.

Verinda initially found unwavering support with FORCE. The organization guided her journey and helped her navigate a path forward. Now, she’s passionate about helping others. Verinda became a patient advocate to “get information out there and help people become more aware” of hereditary cancers, stressing the importance of self-advocacy and understanding family history. She wants everyone to know that knowing your risks is empowering and that you don’t have to do this alone.

Juanita Rogers, Vice President,  Health Education & Communication

While her background is rooted in public health rather than personal cancer experience, Juanita’s commitment to FORCE stems from a deep concern for health disparities. Coming from a large family, Juanita understood that her family failed to have essential conversations around health, propelling her career in public health and education.

“Being empowered and feeling as though it’s not negative to have these conversations is what I would like to see for my family and for the Black community, as well,” She explained.

In her role, Juanita translates complex scientific information into accessible language, ensuring diverse audiences understand hereditary cancer risks. She emphasizes the importance of open communication about family health history, particularly within communities that have historically faced barriers to healthcare access. “It’s important to be able to feel empowered to ask questions and to achieve the most optimal health that you can,” she notes, advocating for proactive engagement with healthcare providers.

FORCE is crucial in disseminating accurate information and addressing misconceptions surrounding genetic testing and hereditary cancers.

“We do share information. I harp on X-RAY (Behind The Headlines) because it’s a great way to share real information and research in a plain language,” she states. FORCE also combats misinformation through its How to spot the BOAST feature and provides comprehensive resources on genetic counseling.

“Knowing that we are here for the community in various ways…is most important,” Juanita emphasizes, underscoring FORCE’s dedication to accessibility and support. She encourages individuals to view themselves as active participants in their healthcare, utilizing FORCE’s resources to make informed decisions about their genetic health.

What We Should Know

FORCE is an invaluable resource on the types of hereditary cancers and what we need to know about them. While 10-20% of all cancers are believed to be caused by an inherited mutation (hereditary cancer), it is crucial to be well-informed on the types, signs, and the specifics on how inherited cancers are passed on from generation to generation.

FacingOurRisk.org shares a wealth of information on the types of cancers and their associated genes. Understanding how genes are passed down from generation to generation, mother or father, and sometimes skipping generations, only amplifies the importance of families having the necessary health conversations to make proactive health decisions for everyone. They offer resources, support, and a sense of community but also empower individuals through awareness and encouragement.

Center for Disease Control: Lynch Syndrome

JAMA Oncology, March 2021, BRACA-1 Gene Research supported the need for more Black women to be tested.

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Breast cancer survivors Carlin Hafiz, founder and CEO of Th3 Pink Haus, and Amanda Butler, fitness trainer and founder of Cancer Baddies, shared their experiences with scalp cooling and how it can make a difference.

What Is Scalp Cooling?

Scalp cooling works by lowering the scalp’s temperature to decrease blood flow and reduce the exposure of hair follicles to chemotherapy drugs. There are two types of scalp cooling: automated and manual. Only the computerized systems are approved and reviewed by the FDA. Patients wear a snug cooling cap during chemotherapy sessions. The caps are thick, bulky, and snug-fitting to maintain low temperatures. They must fit tightly to ensure the best results to help reduce hair loss. However, results may vary.

Before considering scalp cooling, discuss it with your healthcare provider to ensure it is appropriate for your specific type of cancer and cancer treatment.

Why Scalp Cooling Matters

Hair is more than just physical for many women, especially those undergoing cancer treatment. Amanda Butler explains, “I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the peak of my fitness career and had grown my career to be on camera. There was no amount of money that I wasn’t willing to spend to be able to try to save this part of my life.”

Carlin Hafiz agrees, adding that it made a huge difference being able to cut her hair on her terms.

She states, “Having this option was liberating to me because I got to decide to sit in that chair and say cut my hair off into this style, not cut my hair off because I’m getting ready to go through chemotherapy.”

Scalp Cooling for Textured Hair

While scalp cooling is effective, women with textured hair face unique challenges. Textured hair, which tends to be denser and tightly coiled, can make achieving a proper cap fit tricky. Carlin emphasized the importance of preparation. “Flat braids or twists were key for me. The day before treatment, I would section my hair and twist it, but I would start the twists mid hairshaft applying light oils and leave-in conditioner.”

Amanda highlighted her workaround: “Initially, when applying the cold cap, none of my scalp was exposed, so I lost a lot of hair after that first round. After that, I twisted my hair into rows so that my scalp was exposed, and that helped so much more, but I had to figure that out on my own.”

Amanda and Carlin attest that applying for the cap can be difficult and tedious. However, this process can vary depending on the company providing the cold caps. You can use the cap on your own or hire a technician through the company to assist with the process.

Amanda, for example, only had help from a technician for the initial visit. She had a family member shadow this process and allowed friends and family to assist with future sessions.

She notes the process was exhausting. “I would start cold capping around 3:00 pm. Then I’d get my first infusion at 4:00 pm, and I wouldn’t stop cold capping until around 10:00 pm. So it was nearly 7 hours of cold capping on chemo days. It is very time intensive.”

On the other hand, Carlin allowed the technician to assist during each session, which can cost anywhere from $500 to $600, not including the cold cap itself. “The technique is very time-consuming. The technician would accompany me to my chemo sessions, along with my husband or children,” she explained. “They changed my cap every 30 minutes and followed me home. They also had to sit with me for hours afterward to switch out my cap at home.” Wearing protective styles such as cornrows or flat twists helped create a smooth base, allowing better contact between the scalp and the cooling cap. Keeping hair moisturized and detangled can help make it easier to manage between sessions.

You Need Access and Resources

Cost can be a barrier, as scalp cooling systems can range from $1,500 to $3,000 per treatment. However, both survivors highlighted the importance of researching grants or financial aid. Carlin and Amanda shared the importance of research, as some organizations and non-profits may offer financial assistance to help cover the cost.

It Requires Emotional Resilience

Both ladies agreed that while scalp cooling isn’t guaranteed to work for everyone, the process can make a difference depending on your goals.

Amanda shared: “I tried cold capping, and at that moment, that was right for me, but I still lost nearly 70 to 80% of my hair. It’s a lottery whether it will work or not. I feel like many cold capping directions are geared toward non-textured hair, so I had to figure out what would work for me, and I still lost a large amount of hair. I would not choose to do it again. It was very exhausting.”

Carlin, however, says she would do the scalp cooling process over again: “I was in control of how I got to cut my hair afterwards. I still had hair. I still felt great, and that was what was important to me. Even though I still experienced hair thinning, it didn’t matter.”

Final Thoughts

Scalp cooling offers an option to preserve hair during a time of immense change, but it’s just one part of the journey. Whether you choose cold capping, rock a bald head, or opt for protective styles, your experience is valid and beautiful. If you’re considering scalp cooling, speak with your doctor, explore resources, and connect with communities like Th3 Pink Haus or Cancer Baddies for guidance and support.

The post Will Scalp Cooling Prevent Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Breast cancer is the number one cause of death among Black women in the U.S. In fact, according to the study. Black women under age 75 have a 38 percent higher mortality rate than their white counterparts

Unfortunately, this is consistent with poor health outcomes from Black women in areas such as cardiovascular disease and stroke, diabetes, and maternal mortality.

The report suggests that the same things that have improved overall cancer mortality rates, including better and earlier screening and aggressive treatment and clinical trials, have not been as accessible to Black women in this country. Health equity advocates are sounding the alarm on behalf of Black women.

Ifeoma Udoh, Executive Vice President of Policy, Advocacy, and Science  at the Black Women’s Health Imperative, says that the screening standards set by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF)’s recommendations “often overlook the specific health needs of Black women.”

The official updated guidelines suggest screening every two years beginning at age 40, a change from previous recommendations that recommended starting at age 50. Being screened and diagnosed earlier has marked progress, but Udoh says it isn’t enough. She says, “It insufficiently addresses the unique challenges and earlier risks faced by Black women.” Often, Black women develop more aggressive cancers, and often at younger ages.

Magnolia Contreras, Vice President of Community Health at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, says many reasons for the disparities in health outcomes must be addressed. Some are about access, and others could be physical. “Often, Black women have denser breasts,” she says, which can make them harder to screen. “We have hope for continued progress in treatment because science is moving so fast,” Contreras says.

She and Udoh agree that there is a vital role for clinical trials that include Black women. Historically, Black women have not participated in trials and are significantly included in data gathering and analysis.

While advances are being made in cancer treatment, Udoh says, “trials that don’t have a large enough cohort of Black women won’t have enough data.” She says the data should not be generalized—in other words, there is no one sized fits all. “it will take institutions to double down on behalf of Black, Brown, urban and rural women,” and with the uncertainties in federal funding of research and access to care, within the new administration things could get worse. “But we must remember that the Feds are not the only sources of funding.”

Contreras says that DFCI works closely with individuals and communities on access and affordability. She also says that DFCI has a valuable confidential tool on its website called Assess Your Risk that can help any woman assess her potential risk for breast and cervical cancer. “Women can print it out and share it with their own providers,” Conteras says.

Consider the ways that you can manage your risks on your own.

• Here’s what you need to consider doing starting now
• Take time to know your family health history.
• Does cancer run in your family?

Talk to family members on both sides of your family.

• Many women make the mistake of only looking into their mother’s side of their families.
• But breast cancer risks can be passed down from the paternal side of your family.
• Find a doctor or provider you feel comfortable with and set regular appointments. It is always best to have that first visit before you need it. While you are there, schedule your annual mammogram.

Financially, it is easier to get screened if you have health care coverage through your employer, Medicaid, or Medicare.

• But if you are currently uninsured, check out your options within the Affordable Care Act or programs in the community that offer low or no-cost mammograms and other cancer screenings. Many areas even have mobile mammogram vans that offer free screenings.,

 Tweak your wellness and lifestyle.

• Clean your diet by reducing salt, sugar, and processed foods, including sodas. Give up smoking, manage stress, and get into a regular exercise routine to reduce your risk for heart disease, cancer, obesity, and other chronic diseases.
• Also, reduce your consumption of alcohol, which can increase your cancer risks.

The post When Cancer Rates Drop, But Not For Black Women appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The Impact on Black Women and Men

While African Americans generally drink less and start drinking later than other racial groups, we suffer disproportionately from alcohol-related health issues. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), around 43.5% of African American adults reported drinking alcohol, with 7.4% struggling with alcohol addiction. According to the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, our community faces higher risks of recurring alcohol problems and related health issues.

This highlights the urgent need for more dedicated research into alcohol consumption across different racial groups, understanding what drives these differences, and how they lead to disparities in health outcomes.

To make matters worse, Black women face nearly 40% higher mortality from breast cancer compared to non-Hispanic white women, as highlighted by the American Cancer Society. This disparity is further compounded by the fact that 16.4% of total breast cancer cases are linked to alcohol consumption. If it wasn’t clear before, the Surgeon General’s advisory is a wake-up call that we can’t afford to ignore. Yes, alcohol holds hidden dangers, and that seemingly innocent glass often enjoyed during life’s high points might be silently plotting against your health.

The reasons behind these alarming statistics are multifaceted. Our community often grapples with the lingering effects of systemic racism and historical gaps in healthcare, which means we’re not always getting the care we deserve for alcohol-related health issues.

But here’s the good news: recognizing these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them. With greater awareness and a collective effort, we can push for the resources and support needed to address these disparities and improve our health outcomes. Better yet, by making informed choices about our health, we can strive for a better, healthier future together.

It Will Take Our  Collective Effort

The advisory calls for an update on the Surgeon General’s health warning label on alcohol-containing beverages to include cancer risk. It also has some important recommendations. It urges a reassessment of the guideline limits for alcohol consumption to consider cancer risk fully.

The advisory also encourages everyone to be mindful of the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk when making drink choices.

Public health professionals and community groups should spotlight alcohol consumption as a major modifiable cancer risk factor and expand education efforts to boost awareness. Healthcare providers also play a vital role; they should inform patients about this critical link and promote alcohol screening and treatment referrals whenever needed.

We often hear about the staggering statistic of over 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities each year in the United States.

But let’s not forget the impact on our health. To truly make a difference, we need to embrace the full spectrum of alcohol-related harm and take proactive steps to prevent these risks. “This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm,” said [then] U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

His advisory was not just a document; it was a guiding light that raised awareness of the nation’s health history regarding alcohol and offered a glimpse into the potential for a healthier future.

So, please consider putting away the wine, beer, and spirits. This year, pick a new drink of enjoyment, such as kombucha, sweet tea, or plain old water. A healthier future is possible with one mindful choice at a time.

The post How Does the Alcohol & Cancer Link Impact the Black Community? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

How Four Online Brands Measure Up

Bra shopping, in general, can be overwhelming; shopping for bras online can pose an even more significant challenge. Without the ability to try styles on, we are forced to rely heavily on brand marketing and customer reviews. We still wanted to explore a few of these online bra brands to see how they measure up based on key factors like support, suitability for workouts, style, and overall comfort.

Shapedly focuses on shaping and smoothing, the most popular way to highlight seamless styles. Customers appreciate the comfort level and no-show appearance under clothing, but high-impact support and cuteness are not their primary focus.

Yitty: Founded by Lizzo, the brand focuses on comfort, size inclusivity, and body positivity. Like Shapedly, Yitty emphasizes smoothing and shaping but does not offer the high-level support needed for intense workouts or high-impact activities. Thanks to its unique designs in various fun colors, Yitty’s cuteness level ranks pretty high.

FeelinGirl: One of the newest viral sensations, this brand is often associated with offering various styles and colors at incredibly affordable prices. Overall, cuteness ranks high with FeelinGirl, but some of their styles are less likely to provide long-term support. Also, comfort levels may vary depending on body type and lifestyle.

Delimira: Fans of Delimira appreciate their style offerings in a range of sizes (including larger cup sizes) at reasonable prices. As a bonus, Delimira offers different levels of comfort and support, some suitable for light workouts. The brand offers a selection of trendy bra options, but overall, its focus is affordability and functionality over fashion.

The Bottom Line

Style Factor

Hands down: Yitty and FeelinGirl

Workout Friendly

None of these is ideal for high-intensity workouts, but some Delimira and Shapedly styles could be options for lighter activities.

Comfort

Shapedly for the win! Overall Support: Shapedly & Delimira (depending on style) generally reviews higher

Without knowing personal preferences and individual body types, these ratings provide a general overview and assessment based on brand focus and online reviews. Determining what works best for you and your lifestyle is the best way to determine what bra brands and styles will offer your desired support.

One Size Doesn’t Support All

It all starts with the right fit – but it can be easy to get lost in a sea of confusion when shopping for a well-fitting bra. Many women find the process of bra sizing to be confusing, often misinterpreting the relationship between band and cup size. Introduce the growing trend of S, M, and L sizing, which, albeit convenient, usually features bra styles that fail to provide proper support, especially for diverse body types. The generic sizing charts pose challenges for women with fuller chests, who often struggle to find comfortable and supportive bras.

Why The Right Size Matters

Wearing the wrong bra size is not only uncomfortable, but it can also result in a range of health issues. Studies have shown an ill-fitting bra that doesn’t offer adequate support can lead to breast skin damage—often visible to us as stretch marks.

Bras that don’t offer proper support have also been associated with breast pain, neck, shoulder, and back pain, headaches, and bad posture, to name a few.

Board-certified plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. James D. Namnoum shared studies showing that “80% of women wear the incorrect bra size, with 70% of women wearing bras that are too small and 10% wearing bras that are too big.”

These alarming statistics may not be surprising, as finding the right bra size can be challenging. However, the long-term consequences override the short-term process of identifying the best fit, brand, and style that works for your lifestyle.

Of the long-term consequences of wearing an ill-fitting bra, at the top of Dr. Namnoum’s list is Breast, Shoulder, & Back Pain. “One of the first things you may notice from wearing the wrong size bra is breast pain. Complaints are more typical of people with larger breast cup sizes, who exercise infrequently, or who are premenopausal.” Dr. Namnoum adds that “if your bra is too small, it can dig into your breasts. If it is too big, your breasts may have too much room and can become prone to bouncing around, contributing to tenderness [and potential sagging].”

Relating to shoulder, neck, and back pain, the Atlanta-based surgeon notes that while these types of pain are not solely linked to ill-fitting bras, improper breast support can only exacerbate these conditions. Bras designed with larger straps are recommended to disperse weight and offer full support, but, in some cases, straps themselves can cause unnecessary pain. (Think of deep grooves in your shoulders from strap pressure). If cases like these ensure or lead to more serious nerve pain, it is essential to discuss them with your healthcare professional.

Another painful result of wearing the wrong bra is ill-fitting bras that are too tight, which can lead to rib cage pain. These symptoms are typically seen in underwire bras, but wire-free styles can pose the same issues if you’re not wearing the proper band size.

Retailers and Designers alike have accepted that the bra-fitting process can be challenging for women and are doing their part to support consumers in their efforts to avoid these long-term health consequences.

Dillards partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to produce The Bra Fit Guide, which aims to raise awareness about proper breast health and help women look and feel their best. The comprehensive guide explains how to measure your cup and band size correctly and features a range of styles to help you choose the right size and bra for your lifestyle and clothing preferences.

The best way to ensure you are wearing the right size bra is to have it fitted by a professional bra specialist. But if you’re in a time crunch, the Bra Fit Guide explains how to self-measure when schedules don’t allow an in-person fitting.

Finding the Right Bra: Expert Advice

Finding the right bra and fit for your lifestyle can be overwhelming and confusing, but it doesn’t have to be.

Bra Specialists Helene Delince and Stephanie Vincent are Sisters and Co-Owners of The Fitting Curve, a Bra Fitting and lingerie Boutique in Long Island, New York.

Stephanie stresses the importance of a professional bra fitting because “every woman’s body is different.” She adds, “Different women can wear the same bra size but have different breast shapes, density, comfort levels, lifestyles, etc., which is why a bra fitting with an expert is key.”

Helene also shares how a Professional Bra Specialist can educate the consumer on different bra manufacturers and how sizing, fabric, cups, and bands vary between different brands. “It is important to try everything on; with different brands, you may fall under different sizes, and you need to try different sizes to identify the best fit. You can’t do that when shopping online.” Furthermore, different styles in the same size and brand can also fit differently, reiterating the importance of trying styles in real time.

Beyond the measurements. Lifestyle is key. A professional bra fitting can offer a personalized and holistic approach to finding the right size bra. “A woman can come in for a fitting and has been wearing the wrong size for years, mainly due to mass market chain availability – but once she shares details about her lifestyle, it easy to recommend a more supportive style or sports bra type over a t-shirt bra if she has more of an active lifestyle,” Stephanie added. Lastly, Helene recommends visiting a Professional Bra Specialist for a fitting annually, on average, to update your bra collection or more frequently if lifestyle habits have changed or weight has fluctuated.

Even for those who are more comfortable and prefer generic sizing (SML), it is still ideal to get fitted by a bra fitter to identify the proper band size. Overall, SML sizing can be tricky. After all, it is challenging to find bras that offer the perfect cup and band fit.

Taking full control of your breast health begins with prioritizing a proper bra fit and construction. Always get a professional bra fitting with a specialist who will help you make informed decisions about your overall bra lifestyle experience.

‘IG bras’ easily catch our attention, but their focus on viral fashion trends can reveal how much they compromise functionality. They may leave women with larger busts feeling unsupported and, in some instances, experiencing discomfort or even pain. This lack of support can have long-term consequences, reiterating the importance of proper bra construction and sizing over social media sensations.

The post Do Viral Bras Offer Us The Support We Need? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

One of Life in the Pause’s highlights was an in-depth discussion moderated by Lincoln-NIcolns featuring two doctors: Dineasha Potter-McQuilkin, MD, a double board-certified Gynecologist and Lifestyle Medicine specialist, and Dr. Gabrielle Francis, a Naturopathic Doctor.

They began the discussion with an overview. We are born with all the eggs we will have. Dr. Potter-McQuikin notes that by the time we hit our 40s or get closer to menopause, we will have  1-3% of those eggs left and start to feel the effects of making less estrogen and progesterone because we have them all over the body.

“You can have vaginal dryness, itchy skin, heart palpitations, cholesterol changes, and be at increased risk for insulin resistance, Dr Potter-McQuilkin explains. “You could also have sexual dysfunction. It impacts your life significantly in many ways.”

Dr Francis adds, “In your 40s, the engine’s winding down, and many women have thyroid and adrenal depletion from being on the go and never recharging. “And so this period of perimenopause, which is the 10 years before menopause, can often feel like the rugs being pulled out from underneath you if those backup generators are not doing the work they need to do.”

“Start preparing for your menopause years in your late 30s by really getting your lifestyle intact, getting yourself checked, and making sure you’re in balance, not just your hormones, but [things like] your blood sugar and your lifestyle,” Dr Francis says.

“Can you share a little bit more about some of the not-so-common menopausal symptoms? Because last week, while driving, I felt an electric shock in my body. When I got home, I went on to threads. I just had an electric shock, and this is how it felt. Who’s ever felt it?” Lincoln-Nichols explained. “People started responding. So that’s an uncommon symptom. Tell us about some more unusual symptoms people might be experiencing.”

Dr. Potter-McQuikin said those symptoms can include vertigo, anxiety, mood shifts, depression, and the shocks she described. A lot of these symptoms are categorized under what is being called the “new menopause.”

A New Way to Treat Menopause Symptoms

Part of it is that we have reached a breaking point. “[Patients were coming to her saying] I grew up managing 16 different things. I was at work; I could manage my kids and my aging parents. I could do it all. But then, one day, it came to a stop. What do I do now?” Dr. Potter-McQuikin pointed out. “They thought they just had to deal with it. But now they’re finding that you don’t have to deal with it. There are so many things that you can do the way you show up during those transitions. So, in terms of lifestyle, diet, and stress management, there are things that we can do. Before, we thought we couldn’t take that one because it was going to cause breast cancer, breast cancer, strokes, and heart attacks.”

Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not the only option.

“When I can, I would like to start with bioidentical hormones. That means it’s the same hormone and chemical structure as you think. Because honestly, I’m just trying to give you back what you’re missing, which is why we’re having these symptoms. So [it would be] estrogen and progesterone. They have some testosterone as well,” Dr. Potter-McQuilkin said. “But not to say that these synthetic ones are bad. If you come to me saying that you’ve been on synthetic hormones, and if it’s working for you, we can talk about it. It’s about patient preference and individualizing care.”

Dr. Potter-McQuilkin also points out that she prefers to use FDA-approved bioidentical hormones because they are more likely to be approved by her patient’s insurance. Compounded formulas using estradiol may not be approved by insurance.

Dr. Francis recommends natural levels of HRT based on the results of her patient’s lab tests. “The least invasive is using the phytoestrogens and the phyto progesterones, which are herbs that bind their estrogen and progesterone receptors. But I still recommend those based on the lab testing,” she said. “Then the next tier up is bioidentical natural; those are the ones Dr Dineasha was talking about that are made of pharmacies. The estrogen comes from the soy-based, and the progesterone comes from Mexican wild yam base, but it is estrogen progesterone by the time it’s made.”

It’s worth exploring treatment options with your doctor sooner rather than later. And understand that menopause is more than hot flashes and night sweats.

The post The Life in the Pause Festival Deepened the Menopause Discussion appeared first on Black Health Matters.

BHM: Many of our readers are familiar with your stardom from Real Housewives of Miami, but can you briefly share your career journey and what led you to the hit TV network and franchise show?

GA: My journey to Real Housewives of Miami has been colorful! I started as a wedding and event planner, driven by a passion for creating unforgettable experiences. When RHOM approached me, it felt like the perfect platform to bring my personality, culture, and life journey to a broader audience. I wanted to show that being a Black Haitian woman in Miami could bring a fresh perspective to the show and allow me to represent my community authentically.

BHM: Can you share your initial breast cancer diagnosis and how it affected your life, particularly as a Black woman in the public eye?

GA: Receiving my breast cancer diagnosis was a moment of shock and disbelief. I was busy balancing my career, role on RHOM, and responsibilities as a mother and wife when the news hit me, which brought my life to a halt.

I was forced to confront my vulnerability and the reality that cancer affects Black women in unique ways. Being in the public eye added pressure, but I felt a responsibility to be transparent.

My diagnosis intensified my sense of purpose, and I wanted to share my journey to encourage other women to prioritize their health.

I’ve tried to show the raw reality of facing cancer, using my story to promote early detection and self-advocacy.

BHM: What were some of your biggest fears and concerns (if any), considering the unique challenges faced by Black women with breast cancer in the US?

GA: My biggest fear was becoming a statistic and leaving my family behind. I worried about the impact on my family—how would my children cope if my health deteriorated, and how would my husband manage everything?

I was well aware of the disparities Black women face when it comes to breast cancer outcomes, with us often being diagnosed at more advanced stages and receiving lower-quality care.

Hearing that Black women have a 40% higher breast cancer death rate despite a slightly lower incidence rate compared to White women was alarming. The thought of navigating this journey in a system that has historically failed Black women weighed heavily on me. But I was determined to advocate for myself and ensure I received the best possible care.

BHM: As a woman of color (and public persona), how did you navigate the healthcare system and access the treatment and resources you needed?

GA: Navigating the healthcare system was a mix of advocating for myself and being surrounded by a solid support system. I spent time finding the right doctors who specialized in breast cancer treatment and had experience with Black women’s unique health concerns. Being in the public eye added a layer of urgency to my situation—I knew people were watching, and I wanted to set a positive example for other women.

I leveraged my platform to bring awareness to the disparities in healthcare, especially for Black women, and to encourage others to speak up for themselves.

BHM: What were some of the most supportive resources or organizations that helped you during your treatment and recovery?

GA: “To be honest, I leaned heavily on my family throughout my treatment journey. The support of my husband and children was my anchor. I also had incredible care at Memorial Regional Health System, where the staff went above and beyond for me. Organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have been invaluable in providing resources, and I’m particularly connected to SurviveHer, which is a cause close to my heart.”

BHM: What final message do you wish to convey to Black women who are currently diagnosed and looking for support balancing healthcare, family, and work?

GA: My message is simple: prioritize early detection and make your voice heard. A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but there is a strong community here to support you.

Lean into your support network, whether that’s family, friends, or a local support group. When it comes to balancing healthcare, family, and work, give yourself permission to rest, delegate tasks, and seek help.

Your health is your most important priority, and everything else can wait. Finally, know that by taking care of yourself, you’re setting an example for other women who need to see that it’s possible to come out on the other side stronger and more empowered.

Guerdy Abraira’s health journey is a powerful reminder that despite life’s obstacles, resilience and advocacy can light the pathway forward. Her battle with breast cancer has deepened her sense of purpose, motivating her to use her platform to break down stigmas surrounding breast cancer and empower women to prioritize their health. Her message is simple but powerful: you are not alone, and with early detection, self-advocacy, and support, there’s always hope. Guerdy Abraira’s voice carries far beyond reality TV – it calls for resilience and courage to meet life’s challenges head-on.

The post Breast Cancer Turned RHOM Guerdy Abraira’s Life Upside Down appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Natalie was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), the second most common type of breast cancer, according to Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

Natalie’s proactive approach helped her to spring into action. Natalie began having open conversations with her medical care team and trusted community, empowering her to move forward by making informed decisions about her healthcare.

She Had Some Experience

Natalie Pressey served as a caregiver for her parents, who both endured long battles with cancer. This experience profoundly affected her long-term perspective on self-care and the healthcare system.

Witnessing firsthand the challenges and obstacles that can exist with advanced research and development and underserved communities, Natalie was determined to be proactive about her healthcare and take advantage of any preventative measures available.

Going Beyond Traditional Treatment

Despite initial conversations and recommendations for chemotherapy and radiation, Natalie was persistent in doing a deeper dive to explore her options. Natalie learned about the Genomic Oncotype Score Test by openly sharing her diagnosis with a colleague. Genomic Oncotype scoring is a type of testing that helps you and your doctors decide treatments after surgery. It uses a scoring system of 0-100 to determine the likelihood of cancer recurrence post-surgery and whether you will benefit from chemotherapy. It is important to note that not everyone is a candidate for this testing; Genomic Scoring helps determine the benefit of chemotherapy for early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, according to komen.org. Interpreting and discussing your score with your doctor is critical in determining the most effective treatment plan.

Natalie believes that thorough research and self-advocacy were vital to learning about this alternative treatment option to forgo chemotherapy and radiation.

“I would’ve never learned about this testing if I didn’t share my diagnosis with a colleague – that doesn’t look like me,” she shares.

However, by being open and vulnerable, she uncovered a testing option and alternative treatment plan that may not have otherwise been presented to her. “We tend to associate cancer with chemo automatically – that’s the diagnosis, and we tend not to ask questions, but we have to learn to speak up.”

After a successful reconstruction surgery, Natalie agreed to do the Genomic Scoring Testing. As a self-proclaimed “numbers person,” she was intrigued by the scoring system and was willing to explore her options before advancing directly to chemotherapy and radiation. “Seeing what the process looked like for parents, it was important to explore all options available to me,” Natalie adds.

After receiving a genomic score she was pleased with, and after further consultation with her family and team of doctors, Natalie decided to forgo chemotherapy.

Speak Up and Speak Out

Her unwavering advocacy marks Natalie Pressey’s story. Learning from her caregiver journey, she openly shared her experiences with colleagues, family, and friends, which led to a wealth of knowledge and information and a valuable support system. Her willingness to speak up and ask questions about traditional treatment options empowered her to make informed decisions about her treatment options.

She is transforming her pain into purpose, understanding her calling to continue sharing the importance of self-advocacy, self-care, and the power of knowing your options. She encourages women to be proactive about their health, seek second (and third) opinions, and embrace new research. “Cancer today doesn’t look like what it looked like 25-30 years ago,” she notes. By intentionally sharing her story, Natalie hopes to empower others to take control of their cancer journey.

The post Breast Cancer: Why I Chose NOT To Have Chemo appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What are the Symptoms of Male Breast Cancer?

Understanding the signs and symptoms can lead to early diagnoses and treatment and save lives. The most common is a hard lump underneath the nipple and areola, often found by men in the shower, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Other symptoms include:

• A lump, with or without pain, that feels like a knot or hard pebble; look right under or around the nipple or in the armpit area
• Pain in the nipple or breast area
• Changes to the breast skin, including dimpling, puckering, or redness
• Change in the breast shape or size
• Nipple discharge
• A rash or a sore on the nipple or areola
• Nipple turning inward (inverted nipple)

Because many people overlook men when it comes to breast cancer, they aren’t screened or educated much on the topic.

Do Some Men Have Increased Risks of Breast Cancer?

Anyone with breast cells and breast tissue can develop breast cancer. This means that contrary to common myths, men are not exempt from breast cancer; they can get it, too. In fact, because of this misconception, more men lose their lives to breast cancer in comparison to women, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

However, men who have a strong family history of breast, ovarian, or prostate cancers should talk to their healthcare providers, as they are more at risk for developing cancer. In addition to frequent manual exams, men can receive genetic testing to confirm if they carry the BRCA gene mutation—the gene responsible for various cancers, including breast. Men with BRCA mutations are at up to 5 times higher risk for breast cancer compared to men who do not have the mutation. To read a complete list of risk factors, check out this list at the American Cancer Society.

What is the Screening Process for Men?

Early detection is essential. Learning to perform manual self-exams is critical to detecting changes as early as possible. Your healthcare provider will choose the best diagnostic testing if symptoms are present. Image testing, such as mammograms and a low-dose X-ray exam of the breast tissue, is used for further examination and diagnosis, per the American Cancer Society.

What are the Best Treatment Options for Male Breast Cancer Patients?

Treating breast cancer is similar for males and females. According to the NIH, early stages operable male breast cancer treatment options are similar to women.

They include:

• Surgery (with or without radiation)
• Adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, Human epidural growth factor receptor (HER2)-directed therapy.

If patients have cases at stages that are locally advanced or metastatic male breast cancer, they may want to look at the clinical trial research that is underway.

The post Black Men Get Breast Cancer Too! appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A viewpoint article from the Journal of the American Medical Association openly criticized the document. “Far from prioritizing ‘the health and well-being of all Americans at all stages of life,’ as Project 2025 claims, the playbook presents an antiscience, anti-data, and antimedicine agenda,” wrote Nicole Huberfeld, JD, Elizabeth McCuskey, J.D., and Michael R. Ulrich, J.D., MPH in a paper published in September 2024. We break the specifics below:

Gut The Affordable Care Act, aka (Obamacare)

Project 2025 asserts, “The Affordable Care Act has made insurance more expensive and less competitive, and the ACA subsidy scheme simply masks these impacts.” For many in our community, the Affordable Care Act is the only way to obtain coverage.

Limit Drug Pricing Negotiations by the Government

The legislative plan states, “States should be the primary regulators of the medical profession, and the federal government should not restrict providers’ ability to discharge their responsibilities or limit their ability to innovate through government pricing controls or irrational Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement schemes.” This could curb the efforts of legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act.

The act names specific drugs that treat common ailments, including diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, blood cancer, and peripheral artery disease, as mandatory price negotiation selections.

It actively advocates for the act’s repeal. Under the plan, select drugs are subject to mandatory negotiation, which could be expanded.

This “negotiation” program should be repealed, and reforms in Part D that will have a meaningful impact on seniors should be pursued. Other reforms should include eliminating the coverage gap in Part D, reducing the government share in — 466 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise the catastrophic tier, and requiring manufacturers to bear a larger share. Until the IRA is repealed, an Administration that is required to implement it must do so in a way that is prudent with its authority, minimizing the harmful effects of the law’s policies and avoiding even worse unintended consequences.

Bottom line: We might not be able to afford the necessary drugs we need.

Redefine Reproductive Healthcare.

If you have concerns about your fertility, you need to pay attention to Project 2025. In an effort to restrict abortion access, far-reaching legislation is being proposed that could affect access to in vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF treatment. as IVF treatment. Two years later, the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade in a decision that shocked many. Nabela Noor, a content creator credentialed at this year’s Democratic National Convention, spoke to her concerns about IVF being “For many women, IVF is the only choice. That choice, and more, is at stake in November,” said Noor.

Abortion restrictions have already begun impacting individuals and families. Social media mourned the life of a Georgia mother and medical professional named Amber Thurman, who died due to receiving prolonged reproductive care, according to reporting from ProPublica.

Restrict Gender-Affirming Care.

Project 2025 could directly impact those seeking healthcare that aligns with their gender expression. It says that the “HRSA should withdraw all guidance encouraging Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program service providers to provide controversial “gender transition” procedures or “gender-affirming care. They also don’t want the CDC to collect data on gender identity.

A paper published in the Journal of Nature Human Behavior in September investigated a perceived link between anti-Trans legislation and the high suicide rate among transgender people. The paper found that “The laws that pose barriers to quality healthcare, especially gender-affirming care, may undermine overall life satisfaction by reducing access to necessary healthcare that could save lives.”

Prohibit Planned Parenthood Medicare & Medicaid Funding (affecting healthcare beyond abortion access)

Planned Parenthood offers well-visits, breast cancer screenings, pelvic exams, colposcopy, cervical cancer prevention treatments, and other forms of healthcare that have nothing to do with terminating a pregnancy.

Reinstate Moral Exceptions to the Contraceptive Mandate

On January 30, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act. It was collectively released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury.”

The announcement declared, “These proposed rules, if finalized, would rescind the moral exemption to cover contraceptive services without cost-sharing while keeping the religious exemption intact and without narrowing its scope or the types of entities or individuals that may claim the religious exemption.”

“HHS should rescind, if finalized, the regulation titled ‘Coverage of Certain Preventive Services Under the Affordable Care Act,’ proposed jointly by HHS, Treasury, and Labor,” according to Project 2025.

What this means. If this happens, people in certain areas might have trouble accessing certain medications. This is because some professionals could be permitted not to dispense them on moral grounds. If you do not live in an area with many pharmacies, this can cause an issue. You would have to learn the telehealth laws in your area to determine your options for getting treatment (but then see what they are proposing about telemedicine below).

Remove the Vaccine Mandate for the Head Start program.

Project 2025 recommends eliminating the Head Start program. However, in the absence of achieving that goal, it suggests, “At the very least, the program’s COVID-19 vaccine and mask requirements should be rescinded.” The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services states, “Head Start programs support children’s growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being.”

Regulate Telehealth Services.

The Heritage Foundation asserts that the legal definition of “the locus of service” should be “where the provider is located during the telehealth visit rather than where the patient is.” According to them, “With such a definition, states could continue to reserve their powers to establish the standards for licensure and scope of practice.” This could tie the hands of certain telehealth providers.

Doctors Could Own More Hospitals, and Private Medical Plans Would Compete with Medicare Advantage

The plan includes legislative proposals to “remove restrictions on physician-owned hospitals” and “Encourage more direct competition between Medicare Advantage and private plans.”Your

Please keep these proposed changes in mind when you go to the ballot box. Your health may depend on them.

The post 9 Ways Project 2025 Can Impact Our Healthcare appeared first on Black Health Matters.

That’s why I compiled a list of the top popular nutrition myths you’ve probably heard and may even believe. I’ve searched the internet for reputable sources to find out if there’s any scientific evidence to back them up. Are you ready to separate fact from fiction and debunk these myths once and for all?

Watch Out! What you are about to read may be hard to believe.

Myth #1: Eating Eggs (Yolks) Will Kill You

Sound familiar? We’ve long been told that eating eggs, especially the yolks, causes high cholesterol, which can lead to cardiovascular disease and death. Where did this come from? The American Heart Association 1968 warned us to eat no more than three whole eggs per week to avoid consuming dietary cholesterol, which was thought back then to cause high cholesterol.

It has taken half a century of scientific research to understand the truth: Consuming high levels of saturated and trans fats is to blame for high cholesterol, not eggs.

The National Institute of Health refers to this myth as “an outdated hypothesis slowly put to rest,” concluding, “Half a century of research has shown that egg and dietary cholesterol intake is not associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Most health promotion agencies around the world have dropped egg restrictions altogether.

FACTS: Eggs are among the most affordable, nutrient-dense, complete protein sources. They are full of vital nutrients that promote healthy eyes, brain, and nerves, as well as essential vitamins like A, B, and D. Omega-3 fatty acids are widely proven to lower our risk of heart attack and death.

According to Scientific American, hens fed flaxseed yield these eggs.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: While eggs are considered healthy, how they’re cooked and what we eat alongside them could have perpetuated their notoriously Bad reputation.

Foods like bacon, sausage, and ham are traditionally enjoyed with eggs, and using butter and oils in their preparation has most likely tainted the health benefits of our perfect protein.

The American Heart Association writes, “Decades of science have proven that saturated fats can raise your “bad” or LDL cholesterol and put you at higher risk for heart disease.

Myth #2: We need Juice Cleanses to Detox the Body & Jumpstart Weight Loss

The idea that juicing rids your body of toxins and cleanses your vital organs sounds fantastic and entirely believable. However, it’s just not true. Adding more fruits and vegetables to our meals and snacks has proven health benefits. There is little to no scientific evidence to support the idea that juicing your daily fruits and vegetables cleanses your body more than eating them in whole form and staying adequately hydrated throughout the day. That is, I found no valid long-term research to confirm this claim.

I get it. Drinking your fruits and vegetables may seem easy to get in all your daily vitamins and minerals. I often treat myself to a delicious carrot, beet, ginger, celery, and fresh apple juice. I know that juice is healthier than frozen sangria.

But just because it tastes and feels good doesn’t mean that juicing, pulverizing much of the healthy fiber, and destroying the essential vitamins and nutrients in fruits and vegetables is necessarily healthy or necessary to cleanse the body. 

FACT: Our liver and kidneys work naturally to filter out toxins without any help from juices. Unfortunately, there’s more scientific evidence of drawbacks associated with various “detoxes” and “cleanses” than the purported health benefits such as improved digestion, energy boost, and reduced inflammation.

Juices primarily consisting of fruits add more sugars and calories than you could eat the whole version of in a day. Longer juicing may cause more harm than good without protein to stabilize blood sugar spikes.

Liver and cancer specialist and surgeon Thomas Aloia, M.D., explains the importance of a healthy liver: “Detoxifying the normal things we eat, breathe, and ingest is part of its job and keeps us alive.”

So, how do we care for the liver so it functions properly? Dr. Aloia urges us to maintain a healthy diet and avoid putting extra demands on this vital organ.

He warns, “Don’t pack your liver full of fat, sugar, or alcohol, so the (detox) machine keeps doing its job well.”

If Whole Foods like fruits and vegetables and a plant-based diet centered around lean protein sources like legumes, nuts, and seeds  instead of animal products is what you’re looking to consume with these detoxes, cleanses, and juices, he says, “you will likely get all the benefits such programs offer.”

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR/WARNING: Juicing as a meal replacement results in inadequate calories and, most importantly, reduces the fiber required to absorb the nutrients from whole foods. This way of drastically cutting calories may result in weight loss. However, eliminating healthy protein sources could result in losing lean muscle mass and missing out on vitamins and nutrients to fuel your day with energy.

That’s not all; if weight loss is your goal, you may gain more weight when you return to your regular intake of calories and processed food.

Myth #3 Eating Soy Increases Risk of Breast Cancer

It was hard to understand that consuming soy products had been associated with cancer, especially considering that soy is the most popular plant protein, the central component of several Asian cuisines, and is widely used in diverse populations worldwide.

Soy milk emerged in Europe and the US in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until the ’90s that I noticed it. I vividly remember when everyone switched to soy milk in their coffee! Silk, a popular brand of soy milk products, was everywhere.

How could this healthy protein alternative to cow’s milk cause breast cancer when so many populations, including vegetarians, consumed so much of it? Something didn’t sound right. A friend of mine warned me with some urgency about the danger of soy.

Since her mother had recently lost her battle with breast cancer, I was convinced it had to be true! But was it? I needed to know that this claim was scary even though I didn’t like the taste of it in my coffee and never had a taste for tofu.

The confusion stems from a few misinterpretations of scientific evidence in the past. Breastcancer.org attributes older studies that were performed on rats suggested that large doses of isoflavones found in soybeans stimulated breast cancer cells to grow in Petri dishes. However, there is no evidence to suggest the same effect in people.

FACT: Harvard researchers confirm soy foods are rich in nutrients, including B vitamins, fiber, potassium, magnesium, and high-quality protein. Soy is a complete protein containing all nine essential amino acids the body cannot make alone.

According to the American Cancer Society, there is growing evidence that eating tofu, tempeh, edamame, miso, and soymilk may lower the risk of breast cancer.

Myth #4 Fresh Produce is Healthier than Frozen or Canned Versions

It may surprise you that although packaged produce is technically processed, its effects on nutritional value are minimal.

The National Institute of Health reports, “Research has revealed that frozen fruits and vegetables can have just as many vitamins —and sometimes more—than fresh.

While freezing may impact the texture of your fruit when it thaws, fresh fruit retains its natural texture better.

For those who do not have access to fresh produce or proper storage provisions, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables are a convenient and healthy alternative.

However, if you prefer the taste of fresh produce, then fresh may be the only way to go.

FACT:  According to the American Heart  Association, frozen and canned options can be healthy alternatives to fresh produce, the operative word being ‘can.’

In fact, according to UCLA Health, it is well documented that canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are commonly processed within hours of being harvested, which helps preserve their nutrients.

Smart Shopping Tips: It is essential to choose carefully and pay attention to the labels to avoid added sugars like “heavy syrup” or high sodium concentrations. Choose packaged varieties, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, free of salt, syrups, and creams, and season on your own.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: Follow the directions on the package of frozen varieties to avoid overcooking them to the point they lose color or shape. If you cannot identify the vegetable, some nutrients may have been lost along the way.

To be clear, it is possible to encounter a slight shift in the nutritional value of frozen produce. Tish Food Center says, ” Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamins C and B, may leach during the initial blanching process. Also, storing produce in the freezer for too long may cause freezer burn in which cell walls rupture, resulting in a noticeable change in color, flavor, and texture.” The fact remains, however, that adequately stored frozen fruits and vegetables make enjoying produce year-round.

Myth #5 Gluten-Free Foods are Healthier

If you’ve heard about gluten, you may be aware of it since so many products are suddenly made without it. But what exactly is it?

Gluten is a protein in grains like rye, wheat, and barley. It’s common in foods like bread, cereal, and pasta. Celiac disease is an inherited, diagnosable autoimmune disease estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide.

When someone with Celiac disease eats food containing gluten, their bodies trigger an immune response that attacks the small intestine, causing damage and malabsorption of nutrients.

FACT: Gluten-free foods are NOT healthier. The opposite may be true: “Gluten-free foods are commonly less fortified with folic acid, iron, and other nutrients than regular foods containing gluten,” according to Harvard researchers.

They have found that gluten-free foods contain less fiber but more sugar and fat and cost more. Further research has seen “a trend toward weight gain and obesity among those who follow a gluten-free diet (including those with celiac disease).”

There is no compelling evidence that a gluten-free diet will improve health or prevent disease if you don’t have celiac disease.” This means avoiding gluten is unnecessary if you can eat gluten without trouble.

These are just the first five; we have 15 more to go. Stay tuned for part two.

This story is made possible by an educational grant from Novo Nordisk.

The post Nutrition Myths We Still Believe Part 1 appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Latham Thomas, the founder of The Mama Glow Movement (above), says one of the conversations we should have in our community is about the first food justice framework. “Reproductive agency is not just about birth or birth control. It is about the right to give birth, raise children, and explore options with an understanding of the full extent of what’s available,” she explains.

“The first food justice framework is important because it illuminates the sad reality that FOR generations, Black women and Birthing people, were systematically undermined in the practice of breastfeeding.”

“I use the term systematically intentionally here—through generations of trauma as slave owners forced Black women and birthing people to take on roles as wet nurses, to intentional aggressive marketing to low-income Black and Brown mothers—societal conditions have managed to limit Black women’s understanding of the full extent of what is possible when it comes to feeding our babies. The first food justice framework is one way we can also think about the interweaving of structural racism and harmful policies on the livelihoods of Black people from the very beginning,” Thomas notes.

Magnifying the Message

According to Diarra, a challenge is breastfeeding is often considered a personal decision. “But the reason Black women are consistently breastfeeding at such low rates is that this is a structural issue.”

To address the systemic issues, Mama Glow developed a course in which they’ve trained 100 Lactation Specialists—30 students in the first cohort, 70 in the second—equipped to go out into our communities and provide the much-needed education and support that has been missing.

“The first food justice framework where all babies have the full right to eat, and most importantly, their caregivers have the full right to feed. And you can’t have that full right without being given the benefit and drawbacks of all your options,” Diarra (right) explains. “That’s what the course is trying to get at; we’re framing these as individual choices. But what we have seen consistently with breastfeeding in Black communities is we’re not strategically  taught the full scope of how beneficial breastfeeding can be.”

Marketing Designed as a Distraction

Several contributing factors lead to Black birthing people not breastfeeding. Aggressive marketing tactics, which push formula, are among them. “The barriers ironically speak to the importance of the first food justice framework. One of them is the tendency of the infant formula industry to employ aggressive marketing tactics, Thomas points out.

“Another barrier is the enduring, generational, psychological wound that  [accompanied]  our country’s degradation of Black bodies. As slave owners increasingly relied on enslaved wet nurses to provide nutrition for their babies, they simultaneously traumatized Black people’s relationships with this bodily practice,” Thomas says.

“Breastfeeding became an optimal source of nutrition reserved for white infants, white enslaved. In contrast, enslaved mothers were forced to ignore the nutritional and emotional needs of their precious Back infants, who were often left malnourished.” she continued.

“It is inspiring to see people on the ground  working to recognize and heal these wounds, rather than dismiss the issue of low breastfeeding rates as simply a matter of choice.”

We are Also Talking About Restorative Justice.

The Social Determinants of Health often factor into our story, and they are present even with breastfeeding. According to Thomas, Restorative Justice within the breastfeeding world is one step in validating our community’s tumultuous history with the United States. “It’s a commitment to honoring the entanglement of chattel slavery with our daily lives and practices. We are all infants before we are adults, so thinking about the issues facing the most vulnerable allows us to imagine better futures for ourselves,” the Mama Glow founder says. “Thinking about forces that are working against us even before birth allows us to address the Social Determinants of Health and center solutions that the thriving of our community as Black folks.”

A Larger Mission

The mission of Mama Glow is to transform the landscape of maternal health and bridge policy gaps, creating a safer world for mothers and birthing people. “At Mama Glow, we work tirelessly to nurture those who nurture. We live in a country that has failed to do that, especially for Black women and birthing people,” Thomas says. “Our world-renowned professional doula training program, which has touched thousands of lives and people across six or seven continents, is just one tool in the arsenal that allows us to make a transformative impact.”

The post Breastfeeding is a Black Community Imperative appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Hair loss can be a source of stress and anxiety and a significant blow to one’s self-esteem. While experiencing hair loss can be both unexpected and devastating, it can also be the beginning of a journey towards self-acceptance and newfound confidence. More and more Black women are finding renewed strength by embracing their hair loss and highlighting the beauty in baldness.

As we recognize National Hair Loss Awareness Month, it’s a perfect opportunity to raise awareness, share personal stories, and celebrate those who choose to go bald with style and grace.

No Losses, Only Lessons

So, you’ve noticed you’re experiencing some hair loss. What’s next?

Well, first of all, you’re not alone. Millions worldwide experience some form of hair loss, often accompanied by feelings of loss, anger, and insecurity. Notable women, like Interior Designer Sheila Bridges or US Representative Ayanna Pressley, have courageously shared their journeys with hair loss with the world. Still, some women have been boldly wearing their bald heads for years.

The Beauty Within

Sandra Dubose (right), “The Bald Beauty Queen,” is a Motivational Speaker, Coach, Singer, Actor, Voiceover Artist, and Author of the bestselling book My Crown and Glory: It’s Not About the Hair.

In 2011, Sandra was crowned Mrs. Black North Carolina 2011 and became the first Bald Beauty Queen. Crowning Mrs. Black, North Carolina, in 2011 was a defining moment in her journey.

“Being bald became a part of my brand,” she shares. I took back the negative sting and owned my beauty in a celebrated way. It became a symbol of pride, overcoming, and victory.”

Sandra’s journey of self-acceptance wasn’t an easy one. Sandra was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at age 25. It took her eight years from the initial diagnosis of hair loss to move beyond hiding under wigs. “I was tired of hiding,” she admits. While Sandra shares that she also suffers from Cicatricial Alopecia, or Scarring Alopecia (which typically results in permanent hair loss), she remains bold and unapologetic about her journey of learning to accept her baldness and her mission to help others do the same. Her message extends far beyond hair loss, touching on universal themes of self-acceptance and the courage to live authentically. Her book ‘My Crown & Glory – It’s NOT About The Hair,’ is a powerful resource for anyone struggling with self-esteem.

What does National Hair Loss Month mean to you?

“This month is really about not just awareness of hair loss but an awareness of your power, an awareness of the choices that you do have, of how you decide to show up, and a deep, profound awareness of the truth and the depth of your beauty, which cannot be defined by whether or not you have hair or not; its bigger than that and you still own it. You’re still beautiful!”

Finding Joy in the Unexpected Journey

Some individuals take this experience as a time of experimentation and creativity. Many lean in wholeheartedly and instantly find their confidence soars from going bald. A certain freedom comes with saying so long goodbye to bad hair days and spending thousands of dollars on haircare products.

Then, there’s Kim Roxie (left), a Beauty Entrepreneur, Advisor, and advocate who has transformed her experience with alopecia into a mission to transform the beauty industry from the inside out. Kim Roxie is the Founder of LAMIK Beauty, a vegan makeup line made with natural and organic ingredients for multicultural women.

As a successful beauty entrepreneur, makeup artist, and esthetician, Kim Roxie was diagnosed with three forms of alopecia. With a specialty in brows, she began researching products that promote hair growth and use safe ingredients and realized that many products marketed to women of color are toxic. Kim started the LAMIK Beauty brand, which stands for Love and Beauty in Kindness, in a local mall in Houston. The brand had a cult following there for more than 14 years before she decided to close its doors.

Kim’s entrepreneurial journey is also profoundly personal. She created LAMIK as a tribute to her mother, who loved makeup dearly but was diagnosed with breast cancer. “I’m creating the makeup brand my Mom deserved,” the makeup maven proclaims.

Kim wanted to create a tech-enabled beauty brand, so she launched LAMIK.com nationally in March 2020. When the first Revelation Brow Duo was introduced, Kim did so with her bald head, sharing her alopecia story on national television and how it had impacted her eyebrows. Kim saw the overwhelming response and started hearing from others who were dealing with alopecia.

Her journey and confidence in ” living out loud” empower others to embrace their inner beauty. “People deal with acceptance; mentally, it can be stressful thinking about what your family or friends are going to say,” and this hair loss journey “can be draining and disturb your peace,” Kim adds. But self-acceptance is the key and can help you redefine your own definition of what beauty looks like for you.”

What insights would you share during National Hair Loss Month?

• Find a support group. Gather with others who have shared experiences to offer and receive emotional support, advice, and encouragement.
• Get a referral for a trusted Dermatologist – a specialist who can provide personalized, effective care.
• Do your research. Gather information and details before making personal care purchases.
• Get Involved. Follow and support organizations like the National Alopecia Areata Foundation to stay informed about new research and developments.

The Power of Community

As Roxie advises, joining a local support group has power. However, if you’re looking for a larger gathering, there’s no greater example of community than BaldieCon, a three-day empowerment (September 27- September 29) conference held in Atlanta, GA, that brings together women experiencing alopecia at all levels.

Inspired by Felicia Flores and her hair loss journey, BaldieCon is a celebration and an educational experience. It provides attendees with the knowledge and support they need to embrace their journey with alopecia while leaving them inspired and empowered. BaldieCon has evolved into a movement where positivity and good vibes reign supreme.

Hair loss can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to define you. National Hair Loss Month is an opportunity to educate, empower, and celebrate the beauty that emerges after hair loss. Sharing stories and insights raises awareness, breaks the stigma, and creates a more inclusive community. Let’s continue to challenge beauty standards and help everyone feel confident and beautiful, with or without hair.

The post The Bald, The Bold & The Beautiful appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Her mother, Diann Ash, wrote, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, and friend, Erica Chantal Ash (1977-2024). After a long and courageous battle with cancer, she transitioned peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. Erica was an amazing woman and talented entertainer who touched countless lives with her sharp wit,  humor, and genuine zest life. Her memory will live eternally in our hearts.”

When she appeared as a guest on Jemele Hill’s Unbothered Podcast ep 88, “The Year of No F**Ks,” in 2020, Ash talked candidly about battling breast cancer. “I’ve beaten cancer twice. The first time was 2b, the second time was stage 4, and I was trying to decide if I would talk about this…because I haven’t before. But I feel like I should because Black women don’t talk about it, and we need to share our journeys. It was probably the toughest journey for me, but it made me realize the depth of my power. I don’t even know the depth of my power.”

Ash was first diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time she was cast on MAD TV and underwent treatment while doing the show. And didn’t tell any of her friends. It returned for the second time a decade later. Ash’s diagnosis at that time was stage 4 cancer. The cancer also ate away 70% of her spine, requiring her to get screws installed. As a result, she decided to live boldly. And she did things like jump off cliffs in Mexico. “I am going to test the limits of my Black girl magic,” she told Hill in the interview. “I told three girlfriends and my parents.” Everyone else found out listening to Hill’s show. She was shooting “In Contempt” during her stage 4 diagnosis and treatment.

Ash believed that one should listen to one’s body and ask questions of medical professionals until one is satisfied with the answers. She told Hill she wasn’t afraid to fire her doctors, and she did so more than once.

Ash was beloved by her colleagues, friends, and all who knew her. May she rest in peace. The family asks that any donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.

The post Actress Erica Ash Has Died After A Battle With Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But her perspective informed her story and made her an accomplished storyteller today. Having been diagnosed with lupus at 30, Alford has made adjustments, like learning to say no, but she can still define success on her terms.

Click to listen to our chat or read the transcript of our chat below:

00:00

Hi, everybody. I’m Corynne Corbett, editorial director of Black Health Matter, and I have the pleasure of chatting with an award-winning journalist, Natasha S. Alford, about her memoir, American Negra. Today, I want to focus on cultural issues, identity, hair, and health issues.

What were your challenges with cultural identity and growing up as a Puerto Rican/Black girl in Syracuse, New York.?

00:39

First, Corynne, thank you for having me on; I’m so honored to join you all. And you know, health is a part of this story, both from a cultural and identity perspective and just literally talking about physical health.

This story really highlights what it is like to grow up between two cultures. Growing up in a multicultural family, you’re often told you are both. In my case, I had very supportive parents. They’re like, you know, you are an African American Girl, you’re a Puerto Rican girl, nobody can take that away from you.

But I found that our society was not always accepting of the diversity within those cultures. And so there were a lot of people who sometimes questioned how I could be Latina. Some people asked me to sort of perform my identity; they wanted to know if I could speak Spanish or if I could cook certain foods.

And in all the African American side, although I was generally welcomed, right, most people saw me as a black girl, there were still questions about, you know, just what was my ethnic makeup? So I got a lot of questions of, you know, what are you, and people will look at my hair and be like, are you mixed? Are you something else?

So when you grow up with those questions constantly being thrown at you so early in life, you start to ask the question of yourself, what am I can I truly be 100% of both of these cultures. And so American Negra is the story of finding myself and my voice, but also finding my way as a young person, particularly regarding health and accepting what it means to live a healthy life.

2:19

Yeah, and that’s so important just finding yourself and I think everyone is finding yourself but when you also layer in health, culture and identity, that you know that’s a lot of things that add on to finding yourself right. So tell us how that played out in your hair story and how others saw you both in a Latina in the back cultures and how you saw yourself?

3:18

Hair is such a complex issue. It is an issue that can sometimes spark confidence, if you love the way you look you sort of move through the world in a different way. But if you lack confidence, that can also show up, you or question yourself, that can also show up when it comes to hair. Growing up as an African American and a Latina girl, what I found is that in one culture that my hair texture was celebrated. It was seen as exotic it was seen and long, curly, black hair, but when I was on the other side and looking at Spanish language media, I always saw straight hair. I always hair that was very, very long and Eurocentric, that was the standard of beauty. So in that culture, the texture of my hair, the African influence, the descendency, it would be more likely that me perming my hair would make me fit in.

4:33

So, looking back, what do you wish you could have told your younger self?

5:00

I see that I actually am most beautiful when I’m just myself. You know, I’m most comfortable, I’m able to move through the world with a freedom that I didn’t have before when I was trying to conform, whether it be with hair, or and just sort of presenting myself a certain way culturally.

And so yeah, I think it would be not to waste an ounce of time and that you know, there’s so many aspects of our society that want us to feel shame about our bodies about the way that we look. So we will spend money so we will we will change and there’s such power and taking back that narrative and saying I love myself the way I am.

5:41

So, I’ve got to tell you I was recently just last weekend at the National Black Writers Convention, no, National Black Writers Conference, and a woman, that was a vendor there, said, I want to give you a book recommendation American Negra, and she said, she loved it because she’s a Black woman married to a Panamanian man. And she has daughters. She said that she felt like this was something that she could see. She could give it to her daughters. As an example of, you know, this is a reflection of, you know, something that you can be proud of. This is how you can go up to live biculturally. And she was really, really excited about it. She was like this: this woman who wrote this book, she went to Harvard, you should read it. I said I’m reading, so she was, she’s issues, really excited about it. So you know, you are making an impact, and lots of different spaces.

So, let’s talk about your time at Harvard and how culture and identity evolved while you were there.

6:48

I am blown away, and I can’t believe that it is amazing.

07:10

Well, first, I have to acknowledge that the story is incredible. So thank you to that woman for being, you know, an ambassador for the book. That’s exactly why I wrote it in the sense of, even if you don’t have the exact ethnic background that I have, or you know, cultural background, that people who haven’t felt seen and representations of blackness and Latino ness and American identity see themselves. You know, the book explores what it means to go to a place and to learn that you belong. A lot of my struggles at Harvard, in some ways, were centered around belonging and centered around deservingness. There was a part of me, I think, this duality that WEB DuBois often talked about. There was a part of me that felt that I certainly belonged there.

But there was this other part of me that felt that I still had to prove I belonged there. And so it created a lot of pressure for me. Sometimes, academic insecurity, holding back in class, not using my voice, and not raising my hand are things that I think a lot of young people can relate to if they’re first or second-generation going to college. And so what American Negra does is it shows the journey of finding your voice, finding your confidence, you know, shedding imposter syndrome, and accepting your talents and gifts in that space. And one of the reasons I was able to do that was because of the Harvard Black community, which is a very strong community, a very deep-rooted community that has been around since really the beginning of the college. Black people have always been at Harvard. Harvard tragically built its institution in many ways off of the wealth of slave labor. And so even indirectly, you know, our existence is a part of this institution in this really interesting way, a really sad way. And yet, there have been so many brilliant scholars who’ve come through this place. And so what I wanted to show in American NACADA was our belonging. There’s a lot of conversation right now about DEI. And you know, whether, when people say DEI, they’re referring to Black people, even though DEI benefits so many, but it’s this question of do we deserve what we have, and I think the book really shows, both historically and in my personal story, what it means to know that you belong someplace and know that you deserve to be there.

9:35

Absolutely, absolutely. Now, let’s talk about the Dominican Republic for a minute. What did your time in the Dr. Contribute to your thoughts about being an Afro Latina?

9:53

Readers who see American Negra will see that the Dominican Republic was a turning point for me. I remember landing It was in 2005, the summer of 2005. And, or it was the summer of 2005 or 2006, I have to double-check. But when I got there, I was completely blown away by how many brown-skinned people were there. And it’s not brown in the sense of, you know, the way that we talk about Latina that in the US, we think of sort of tan. So, with just little hints of color, I saw black people everywhere. I saw Afro-descendants everywhere. They were speaking Spanish, you know, they were born and raised in the Dominican Republic. And many of them saw me and assumed that I was Dominican. And so, for the first time in my life, I’m experiencing what it is to blend in as a Latina, to sort of fit in not to be seen as another just because I’m black, but for people to assume just from looking at me that I must be one of them. So I talk in the book about what that does to me, you know, on an emotional level, but also intellectually, this sort of curiosity that it sparks for me to say, Okay, wait a second, I’ve been hearing that Black people have been across the diaspora for years, right, that there were boats that stopped in all these places. But what does it mean to really know that history? How are we connected? But also, what ways are we divided. And so I also learned a bit about the country’s relationship to Haiti. And times when, you know, the relationship was actually really devastating and violent. And so I talked about that in the book as well, which, you know, in modern times, is obviously very relevant to a lot of what we’re seeing in the news right now.

11:34

Yes absolutely so now let’s talk about your health receiving a Lupus diagnosis tell us that story.

11:48

Well, I was just turning 30, or I had just turned 30 years old. And when you turn 30, it’s a it’s a new phase of adulthood, but you’re still pretty young, right, there’s still some assumptions that you make about what it means to be a 30 year old. And so when I got this diagnosis, completely unexpected, you know, I was running in the gym one day and unable to move my wrists. All of a sudden, it felt like my legs were heavy weights with sandbags, tied to them. It took me a while to realize I even had to go to the doctor because I learned so early that the doctors only to be gone to when it’s an emergency. Other than that, you push through the pain. That’s the sort of culture that I came from. That was the kind of upbringing that I had and watching my parents and, you know, my family and the examples around me.

So by the time I went to the doctor, I was blindsided when I was told that I had lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks healthy cells. So rather than attacking the invaders, it’s attacking healthy cells that can cause joint damage, organ damage, sometimes it manifests in skin rashes and other pains in the body.

But there’s also a mental toll, depression, and anxiety that comes with having an illness like this because your body is under attack, and it is so unpredictable, even with the different ways that you can manage it. And so what American Negra does is it takes you inside the experience of getting a diagnosis like this, but also what it means to get a diagnosis when you’re at the peak of your career, the right things are about to take off.

You know, you have high expectations for yourself, and how do you manage having big dreams with having a big illness? And so you know, it’s not easy; the spoiler is that it took me a while to accept it took me over a year before I really committed to taking my medication to go into the doctor to taking care of myself. And there were consequences to that which I do talk about but ultimately, the journey of acceptance was a really powerful one because then it allowed me to create a new normal for myself that didn’t require me sacrificing my health in order to succeed.

14:10

It’s an it’s, so let’s talk about lupus not just in the black community. It is also in the Latino community. It is yet so. So, raising awareness of this American mega is a vehicle that raises awareness about the prevalence of lupus is also an opportunity to discuss having lupus because also in our communities, we don’t talk about having autoimmune diseases. You know we keep quiet about these things because that’s our culture.

14:24

Yes

14:55

Yes, and I think that it’s a larger field. Share of American culture is that we put our work first, our health comes second, and there’s a lot of shame and stigma around being a person with a chronic illness because it begs the question, well, what can you do? How productive can you be? Can you still work? And so much of our value in this country is defined by what we do for work. So there’s a reeducation, I think that needs to happen. And you’re right that I’m trying to raise awareness about how this disproportionately affects different communities. First and foremost, lupus disproportionately affects women. So that’s just like across the board: women are more likely to get lupus. But then, when you look at race and the way that we categorize race, generally, in the United States, black women are three times more likely to get lupus than our white female counterparts. Hispanic women are also more likely to get lupus. And one of the questions I post in the book, it’s just because of the way that we track race, ethnicity, you know, for the black Latina, I don’t know what the exact numbers are, I’m not sure that anybody’s looking to see how we are affected by lupus, but they should certainly ask the question. And because of that, you know, we, as Black women, are already facing all of these stressors, right? You look at Black maternal mortality rates, you look at our rates of heart disease, you look at our rates of breast cancer. And so it’s yet another burden that we have to carry, which I think highlights the need for us to be open about it and talk about how we’re coping and getting through to lean on each other. And not feel shame because this is not something we asked for. There’s nothing that we did to deserve lupus, but we do deserve to live rich, meaningful, healthy lives, even despite having this illness. And so I hope to break the stigma by being so public about it at this young age.

16:10

Right. And so let’s talk about caring for yourself. How are you caring for yourself as you continue with your career? What adjustments are you making? Because it’s not that your life has stopped, right? But you make adjustments, and you carry on?

Yeah, certainly has it. Yeah. As the mother of a toddler, you know, between this book, being on CNN, and working at the Grio, it definitely has gone on. Life is going on. You know, I think the big difference between me now and before is that I know how to say no, I didn’t know how to say no before, anytime I was invited to do something. Anytime I had a chance to take on more projects, I did more work. I was doing it because that was how I was cultivated and acculturated, you know, to think that you have to grind and take every opportunity and make the most of it. Now, it’s all about quality over quantity, you know, the quality of my experiences, the quality of my relationships, the quality of the work I’m doing. That’s what matters more than squeezing everything I can into a day. And so even with this book tour for American Negra, we did, you know, the northeast, we went to all these cities DC, Boston, New York, Montclair, New Jersey, Syracuse, my hometown, Rochester, but I built in a pause, because I said, you know, the temptation will be to run myself down to the ground promoting this book. But I have to be a living example of what it means to care for yourself. And the truth is, I’m going to need a break. And so we will pick up the rest of the tour. We’ll go to the south. I’m going to Chicago next month. But I needed to live out those values even as I was doing something like promoting a book where I talked about having lupus.

18:55

[Fo] young women who are growing up in areas where not many people who look like them have their cultures and identities questioned. What should they do?

20:10

Well, I think the first step is realizing you’re not alone. Wherever you are in the world, you are not alone. There’s somebody who shares your experience. And so, even in this digital world where we have all these connections, it is very easy to feel isolated. And so I encourage you to find a community where you can find others who share your experience. That’s the first thing. But I think the second thing is that finding who you are is layered. There’s who you are at work, the jobs you enjoy, and the career you want. There’s also who you are in terms of your family story. One of the things I did in writing American Negrae was go and get genealogy assessments done. So I learned about my ancestry things that I had gone years, never knowing about my family. We were connected to a plantation in Darlington, South Carolina, and my ancestor was enslaved there. My ancestors in Puerto Rico worked in sugarcane fields, and you know, essentially me, these big, rich business owners even richer, but those were the histories that I had been denied. Because, you know, how often are you born and you only know your immediate family’s history. And so it was something about learning where it came from that was so powerful, and it made me feel so much more empowered. Again, it was much more like I belonged as an American; I deserved to be here and proud of what my family has contributed. So I encourage people to get to know themselves and maybe do some of that deeper work to discover your family story and your story. I think that it helps you to see yourself in context in a different way.

22:07
But it, it’s been a joy to talk with you. Thank you so much for having me. I want to encourage all your listeners to follow me I’m right on Instagram, it’s Natasha S. Alford, American negative also has its own Instagram account where we’re posting pictures from book tour events, people’s different reviews. It’s just its really community building is what we’re doing with this book. And you can learn more if you go to AmericanNegra.com is just N E G RA. But we are online and we’re doing this tour we’re traveling around the country went to Puerto Rico for an event. So if you don’t come to see me in person in person, you can always go online, and of course, you can get the book on Amazon, where it is a top book in African American history right now, even four weeks after it’s released. So go ahead and check it out and leave us a review, too. You too.

The post Natasha S. Alford: On Culture, Identity, Health, Hair and Her Book, American Negra appeared first on Black Health Matters.

You will make your options much more accessible and reduce your stress around enrollment if you start doing your homework at least three to six months before enrolling. Just remember that Medicare enrollment is not optional or automatic. You must sign up, even if you are not retiring until you are 66 or older. You can enroll three months before your birthday or up to three months after, but there are financial penalties if you don’t sign up on time.

How Do You Decide Beyond Enrollment?

Aside from enrolling, you will have many decisions to make that will determine the kind of healthcare coverage you get. Make a list of everything you know about your current health conditions and the medications you are on. It might be an excellent time to visit your doctor to get screened for diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic disease.

When looking at coverage, don’t overlook your family health history as you contemplate your future health needs. While many people only look at their current health, most people heading into 65 already know that things can change at a moment’s notice. No real crystal ball can predict what will happen or what you will need as you age. Every day has the potential to present a new ache, pain, or diagnosis. To gamble on having less coverage than we have now with our employer-sponsored plan.

We have all heard horror stories of the choices that older people on fixed incomes must make between high-cost medications and services and food.

Medicare Choices

Let’s start with the Original Medicare, known as Part A. It is the basic and premium-free coverage that the government requires once you turn 65. It covers inpatient, hospitalization, and short-term care in a skilled nursing facility, usually at 80 percent, after a deductible of around $1,400 for the first day of care.

“Part B addresses doctor visits and preventative care, including screenings and treatment. The standard premium starts at approximately $147 a month,” Edward McFarland, a Medicare specialist, explains. Note that Medicare Part B only pays for medically necessary procedures and does not cover dental care.

The Medicare Advantage plans are the one-stop plans that combine everything into one plan. You must still enroll in Medicare’s Parts A and B, but the Advantage plans are run through private insurers. They could include dental and vision care coverage, telemedicine, and other services, depending on what you select and how much you can afford to pay. Some plans do not require extra fees. Open enrollment for most Medicare Advantage enrollees ended March 31, but changes can be made again in November 2024 for 2025.

Part D is the easiest to remember because this is the much-needed drug coverage. Most Part D plans have an annual deductible, about 25 percent of your annual drug costs, until you hit the $2,500 cap.

McFarland says, “Look carefully at your medication needs.” Once you are enrolled, you can make changes to your Medicare options once a year.

Yet Medicare doesn’t cover everything. One big discussion is on the new weight loss drugs, such as Wegovy, that have made an impact on obesity. Medicare just approved coverage for people who are overweight and obese and also are at high risk of heart attack or stroke. The out-of-pocket expenses for this class of medications, without coverage, is over $1,000 per month.

In addition, it has improved and expanded preventative care programs that pay for office visits, screenings such as colon and breast cancer, mental health screening, and vaccines.

Where to Get the Best Information

Figuring out what makes medical and financial sense for you should start with a call to Medicare at 800-772-1213. One of their trained specialists can help you understand your needs for your situation and circumstances. The good news is that specialists are available by phone 24 hours a day. Or go to www.medicare.gov for more information.

Also, visit the State’s Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). It’s a free resource that provides information on the state’s free services and programs. Find the state’s website and connect with a counselor who can guide you through the options.

Note: Consider helping your parent or loved one negotiate these decisions. 

The post Turning 65 Soon? Understand Your Medicare Options appeared first on Black Health Matters.

PCOS Explained

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)is a hormonal condition, it consists of an imbalance that occurs when the ovaries produce excessive androgens, these are sex hormones that contribute to puberty, reproductive health, and body development according to The Cleveland Clinic. Although males produce more androgens, they are produced by both males and females. This excessive production can lead to imbalanced reproductive hormones.

What are the Symptoms?

The Mayo Clinic has provided insight into the symptoms of PCOS, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should visit your healthcare provider. PCOS symptoms include the following:

• Irregular periods, having few menstrual periods or having periods that are not regular are common signs of PCOS.
• Excessively lengthy periods, having periods that last for many days or longer than is typical for a period can be a cause for concern.
• Fertility issues.
• Too much androgen, elevated levels of the hormone androgen may result in excess facial and body hair, this is called hirsutism. High androgen levels can contribute to male-pattern baldness and severe acne as well.
•  Polycystic ovaries, the ovaries might become bigger, and many follicles containing immature eggs may develop around the edge of the ovaries. This can contribute to cysts and difficulties with the function of the ovaries.

Additionally, PCOS can be a risk factor for other complications in a woman’s life. The Mayo Clinic has created a list of complications that can occur for women diagnosed with PCOS, the list includes:

• Infertility.
• Gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.
•  Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, this is a severe liver inflammation caused by fat buildup in the liver.
• Miscarriage or premature birth.
•  Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
• Sleep apnea
•  Metabolic syndrome, this is a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol or triglyceride levels that significantly increase one’s risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease.
•  Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.
• Endometrial cancer, this is cancer of the uterine lining.

Hirsutism

According to the Resilient Sisterhood Project, Black women with PCOS are shown to have higher rates of hirsutism, insulin resistance, obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, high blood sugar and a higher risk or cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome. People with PCOS hirsutism typically have course, visible, dark hairs growing in these parts of the body. These hairs are commonly called androgenic. Many women select from the following methods to manage their hair growth:

Manual removal, such as shaving, plucking, or waxing.

* Depilatory agents, such as topical gels, lotions, or hair removal creams.

* Hormonal medications, such as birth control pills that boost estrogen levels and anti-androgen drugs that can decrease testosterone levels.

* Electrolysis, this technique kills the growth center of a hair with electricity.

* Laser hair reduction, this kills hair with a laser, it has been proven to work best on fair-skinned people with very dark hair. (Editor’s note To avoid an adverse reaction you must go to a board-certified dermatologist experienced with dark skin that has a laser designed for use for dark skin).

If you are experiencing signs of hirsutism , this is not enough to equate to a direct PCOS diagnosis, we urge you to visit your healthcare providers to get a thorough understanding of your symptoms, this can aid in proper diagnoses regarding PCOS or other conditions.

Treating Your PCOS

Since PCOS does not have a cure, treatment focuses on managing the symptoms and complications that concern patients, these focal points can be different for every individual. This could include infertility, hirsutism, acne, or obesity, according to the Mayo Clinic. Lifestyle changes and medication may be suggested for patients to achieve their health goals. To regulate periods and ovulation, healthcare providers may recommend some of the following options:

•  A combination of birth control pills, that contain both estrogen and progestin decrease androgen production and regulate estrogen. Regulating these hormones can lower the risk of endometrial cancer and lessen symptoms associated with PCOS.
• Progestin therapy, taking progestin for 10 to 14 days every 1 to 2 months can regulate periods and protect women against endometrial cancer.
•  Clomiphene, this oral anti-estrogen medication is taken during the first part of a woman’s menstrual cycle, it can help with ovulation and the process of getting pregnant.
• Letrozole (Femara), this breast cancer treatment can work to stimulate the ovaries.
• Metformin, this medicine for type 2 diabetes that can be taken orally improves insulin resistance and lowers insulin levels.
• Patients can also discuss topical gels, creams, and medications to reduce the speed of excessive hair growth and the effects that high androgen levels can have on the skin.

Navigating life with PCOS can certainly be tough and many women suffer mentally as they struggle to find support in an experience that can be very isolating. Here at BHM, we want to remind you that you are not alone, and we urge you to find support whether it be from healthcare providers, friends, family, therapists, other women living with this condition, or a combination of all these things.The Resilient Sisterhood Project has reported the experiences of many black women with PCOS who have felt invisible and invalidated when seeking help from medical practitioners. Others have had their symptoms dismissed. been bullied about their weight  instead of the root cause of their issues.

It is imperative that Black woman try their absolute best to research their doctors, read patient reviews, and remain confident in their knowledge of their experiences and the questions that they are seeking answers for. We don’t deserve to be profiled or dismissed when we are trying to take care of our health, advocating for ourselves is one of the keys to attaining proper healthcare and holding our healthcare providers accountable

If you happen to have PCOS, your story and experiences are valuable. Remember to always advocate for yourself and your health and have compassion for yourself as you go through this journey.

The post How Does PCOS Impact Your Health? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

1. Your World May Feel Like Its Crashing

After receiving a diagnosis, you might not know what you need immediately. But it is critical to allow yourself to acknowledge your feelings, whatever they are. When you are at your doctor’s office, they speak a foreign language. One survivor will never forget what her OBGYN, Ketly Michel, MD, told her, “We lost a battle, but we are going to win the war.” Her doctor’s words gave her confidence that someone had her back.

2. Remember Your Oncologist is a Scientist

But when it comes to your breast cancer treatment, you want the best scientist. An oncologist may speak with you in an unfamiliar way. But those who have been there believe they will give you the best course of treatment and have your best interests at heart–even if they don’t give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. That doesn’t mean you should accept rude behavior; they should be willing to explain things you need clarification on. As Black women dealing with the medical establishment, we want to ensure our voice is heard. Look for someone who takes you into their office and sits down for a lengthy conversation.

3. Don’t Go Down the Google Rabbit Hole

One survivor mentioned that she lost a lot of sleep Googling every term and drug name. She said it is not unusual to hear 50 terms in three weeks, which can become overwhelming. She decided to be aware and decided against overloading herself. At some point, she decided it was necessary to concentrate more on healing than understanding every term.

4. Know Your Stage, the Proposed Treatment Protocol, and the Side Effects

You must understand what is going to happen to your body, especially when it comes to drugs prescribed for chemotherapy or radiation. You may know that hair loss is possible, but what about fingers and toenails turning black, for example? Or your nails are falling off altogether. Even with hair loss, you might want a wig that works for you before chemotherapy begins instead of waiting until your hair falls out in clumps. One woman shared that hers fell out in the bowl at the hair salon a few weeks after she started chemotherapy, which traumatized her and her hairstylist.

5. Don’t Expect to Feel or Look Like Your Pre-Cancer Self During This Process

Your skin texture might change with dry skin, acne, or rashes. It may also get sensitive and itch because of your treatments. The treated skin may become darker or lighter during radiation, peel, or turn red. You also may become physically or emotionally exhausted. Don’t expect to have chemotherapy and run five miles afterward. You may be able to do it, but eventually, you will hit a wall. When you do, treat yourself with kindness.

6. Figure Out What Brings You Peace During the Process

The mental toll is tough when you hear a word associated with death, so it is essential to lean into faith or spiritual practices or explore talking with a therapist. Beyond that, it is okay to decide your needs minute-by-minute. For some patients, that may mean spending time with a trusted friend or family member during chemotherapy. For others, it might be better to listen to music or spend time alone for some quiet moments.

The post 6 Tips For Managing a Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment (From Those Who Have Been There) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A new study from Duke University School of Medicine, published last fall, delved into why younger Black women are disproportionately impacted by triple-negative breast cancer. Their findings point to one possible factor involving a molecular distinction in African American women under 50.

The exploratory study analyzed clinical, demographic, DNA methylation, and gene expression data from publicly available data repositories. The investigators found that African American women under age 50 had a unique DNA methylation profile compared to older African American women and white women of all ages.

Maggie DiNome, MD FACS, the study’s lead author, says, “This study shows us that we need to look a little closer at the molecular differences of breast cancers by race and ethnicity and not just assume that triple-negative breast cancer is necessarily the same cancer in all people.” The findings may help in the development of targeted treatments for younger Black women with aggressive breast cancers.

What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare form of breast cancer that accounts for less than 5 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses. It blocks the vessels in the skin that carry lymph fluid throughout the body. This form of cancer causes the breasts to look swollen and red.

Patients with inflammatory breast cancer may experience red and swollen breasts, bruised skin around the breasts, swollen lymph nodes in the underarms, burning sensations, and increased breast size. The skin may also look pitted like an orange because the fluid is all backed up, and the nipple may face inward.

How serious is it? Very. Women diagnosed with this form do not live as long as women with other types of this disease. Inflammatory breast cancer can develop and progress in a few weeks or months. For many women, when they are diagnosed with this form, they are already in stage III or IV, and the cancer may have spread to other lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Even though it can be harder to treat, usually the first step is chemotherapy—a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells—then surgery to remove the tumors, followed up with radiation therapy. There has been a call by many researchers to get more funding to advance the current treatment

According to the NIH, 20% to 40% of patients with inflammatory breast cancer have triple-negative breast cancer.

What is Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

Triple-negative breast cancer lacks the most common receptors that fuel most breast cancer growth—estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene—making it “triple negative.” Because these tumors lack these receptors, it’s harder to treat this form of cancer with traditional hormone therapy. This cancer accounts for 10 percent to 20 percent of all diagnoses.

This particular cancer doesn’t really look much different from other forms; it just has some different characteristics. Only testing will tell you if you have this form.

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Breast Cancer Awareness 2024′ is brought to you in partnership with Merck.

The post What Black Women Should Know About Aggressive Breast Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But about 5-10% of breast cancers are thought to be genetic. Yet, there is not much discussion about genetic testing in our community. We have heard about the BRAC-1 and BRAC-2 gene mutations, but did you know that we all have those genes? BreastCancer.org says, “The function of the BRCA genes is to repair cell damage and keep breast, ovarian, and other cells growing normally. But when these genes contain mutations that are passed from generation to generation, the genes don’t function normally, and breast, ovarian, and other cancer risk increases.” These mutations account for 1 in 10 breast cancer diagnoses.

Robert Leone Ferre, MD, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic who is studying triple-negative breast cancer, says, “It’s a bit more common at younger ages and in African American women, Hispanic women, and women of Indian descent. We also see this subtype more commonly in women who have a genetic mutation predisposing them to breast cancer — the BRCA1 mutation, in particular.”

Research by the American Cancer Society examined the need for genetic counseling to assess our risk for breast cancer and concluded that we need it as much as white women. There is limited data on those of us whose ancestors come from Africa.

The report says, “Genetic testing, counseling, and treatment refinement could benefit AA women. AA women have a higher incidence of breast cancer before age 50, a higher incidence of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, a more frequent family history of ovarian cancer, and a 42% higher breast cancer death rate than White women.”

Since there was a knowledge gap, the researchers turned to the United States-based Cancer Risk Estimates Related to Susceptibility (CARRIERS) consortium. They reviewed data from 5,504 AA women with breast cancer and 4,993 AA women without breast cancer from 10 epidemiologic studies (including the American Cancer Society (ACS) Cancer Prevention Studies, CPS-II, and CPS-3).

Because of the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer and the lack of therapeutic options, it is important to know which individuals face a higher risk and what factors may influence this risk, the researchers note.

The researchers looked in the data from AA women for pathogenic mutations in the 12 genes associated mostly with European ancestry. They found:

• Among the 23 genes tested in this study, pathogenic mutations were identified in 8% of AA women who had breast cancer and 2% who did not.
• Mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 were linked with high risks of developing breast cancer.
• The frequency of pathogenic mutations was especially high (10%) in AA women with ER-breast cancer (triple-negative breast cancer).

So why aren’t more of us undergoing genetic testing? Many used to believe that it didn’t apply to us because we are often diagnosed at a younger age. However, this study found that finding out whether “a woman has certain cancer predisposition genes is, in fact, highly predictive of the development of breast cancer in Black women.” But the reason we are not widely exploring these options is because our physicians don’t recommend them and our limited access to care.

The post Black Women Have a Higher Triple Negative Breast Cancer Risk (Why Aren’t We Doing Genetic Testing?) appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Georgia Dunston, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Founding Director of the National Human Genome Center at Howard University

A pioneer among Black genetic researchers, Dr. Georgia Dunston, received her doctorate in human genetics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in the 1970s. While doing a post-doctorate research assignment, she collaborated with a noted scientist from the Human Genome Project on a study that examined how Type 2 diabetes manifested in West Africans compared to patients in Finland. Dunston also sought to understand what made people different and focused on populations from Africa because of the vast genetic variations. What fueled her research was to better understand the challenges African Americans face with organ transplants, diabetes, asthma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. She helped bring national and international research collaborations that examined the diseases impacting us to Howard University.

Rick Kittles, Ph.D., Senior Vice President for Research, Morehouse School of Medicine

Dr. Rick Kittles is a biologist, geneticist, and health equity expert. He directed the African American Hereditary Prostate Cancer Study Network at Howard University’s National Human Genome Center. He also held positions at Ohio State University and the University of Illinois, Chicago. At the City of Hope in Duarte, California, Kittles was the founding director of the Division of Health Equities in the Department of Population Sciences and associate director of Health Equities in the Cancer Center. He focuses his research on prostate cancer and the intersection of race, Ancestry, genetics, and health disparities. He actively advocates for Black representation and participation in clinical trials and research. Kittles is also the co-founder of African Ancestry, a DNA testing company for us by us.

Jenina Jeff, Ph.D., M.S., Staff Bioinformatics Scientist at Illumina

Dr. Janina Jeff is a self-described population geneticist. She focuses on underrepresented populations studying the human genome to develop technology that predicts and develops disease treatments. “Think of your genome like a recipe, providing the instructions to your body to carry out the necessary functions for your survival,” she explains. “It can also describe some of the traits you were born with that make you uniquely you!” She notes that population geneticists combine their knowledge of genetics with computer science to create tools, like genotyping, that sort through genetic recipes faster. Jeff uses technology to predict and develop potential disease treatments in underrepresented communities. She also makes genetics more accessible as the host of In Those Genes, described as”A hip-hop-inspired podcast that uses genetics to uncover the lost identities of African-descended Americans through the lens of Black culture.”

Hadiyah-Nicole Green, Ph.D., Founder Ora Lee Cancer Foundation

Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green is one of the first Black women to earn a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is already one of our country’s leading medical physicists. She has expertise “at the intersection of nanotechnology, immunotherapy, and precision medicine.” She has already developed a groundbreaking treatment that uses nanotechnology and lasers to kill cancer in mice in 15 days. She founded the Ora Lee Cancer Foundation, a 501c3 organization so that she could raise funds to begin human trials to test her discovery and make the treatment affordable.

The post 4 Black Scientists Using Genetics and Technology to Improve Our Future Health Outcomes appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What is breast cancer recurrence?

Breast cancer recurrence occurs when the cancer returns after it was previously treated or undetected. There are 3 main types of breast cancer recurrence. Local recurrence occurs when the cancer comes back in the same breast. Regional recurrence occurs when the cancer comes back in the lymph nodes near the breast. Distant recurrence occurs when the cancer comes back somewhere else in your body. Of all the breast cancer subtypes, female patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer experience the highest 5-year survival rates at 94.8%. Additional research is needed to fully understand the risk of recurrence in patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

If you have been treated for breast cancer, the thought of cancer recurring can be stressful. Early detection and intervention may improve outcomes in patients who experience recurrence. It is important to maintain routine follow up visits as recommended by your healthcare provider to closely monitor.

Risk of Recurrence in Black Women

Minority women with HR+/HER2- breast cancer, including women of Black, Hispanic, and American Indian descent, experience significantly increased risks of breast cancer recurrence when compared to white women. While HR+/HER2- breast cancer has a more favorable prognosis than other types of breast cancer, it represents the greatest disparities in survival. Other risk factors that have been found to contribute to the risk of recurrence include larger sized tumors and involvement of lymph nodes.

If you or a loved one have early-stage ER+/HER2- breast cancer and have had surgery to treat it, you may be eligible for a clinical trial. Click here to learn more about an ongoing breast cancer clinical trial, determine if you are eligible, and do your part to increase diversity in clinical trials and advance estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer research.

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References

• The Breast. Risk of recurrence among patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, early breast cancer receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• New England Journal of Medicine. 20-Year Risks of Breast-Cancer Recurrence after Stopping Endocrine Therapy at 5 Years
• American Cancer Society: Understanding Recurrence
• National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer Subtypes
• The Breast. Population-based recurrence rates among older women with HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer: Clinical risk factors, frailty status, and differences by race

This article is sponsored by Lilly.

The post Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence in Black Women appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Click here to learn more about an ongoing clinical trial, determine if you are eligible, and do your part to advance estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer research.

Hormones and Receptors

Hormones and receptors play an important role in adjuvant endocrine therapy. The majority of breast cancer diagnoses are either estrogen or progesterone receptor positive. These two hormones are the key components of cancer formation and you will likely hear these terms used frequently.

Estrogen and progesterone receptors are found on the surface of breast cancer cells. When hormones attach to the receptors, cancer cells can grow and divide. Breast cancers that have a high number of estrogen receptors are labeled as estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive), and cancers with a high number of progesterone receptors are called progesterone receptor-positive (PR-positive). At least 65% of all breast cancers are specifically classified as ER+/HER2-.

The link between hormones and adjuvant endocrine therapy is fundamental to understanding how this treatment approach works in breast cancer treatment.

What is adjuvant therapy?

Adjuvant therapy is additional treatment that is given after your initial or primary therapy such as surgery. There are several different types of adjuvant therapies, and they are commonly used when treating breast cancer. Some examples include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and hormone (or endocrine) therapy. The main goal of adjuvant therapy is to increase the effectiveness of the primary therapy and reduce the risk of the cancer returning by targeting any remaining cancer cells that were not destroyed by the primary treatment.

What is adjuvant endocrine therapy?

Adjuvant endocrine therapy is often referred to as hormone therapy. Hormone therapy for breast cancer is different from hormone therapy used to treat menopausal symptoms. Endocrine therapy for breast cancer is used in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It works by targeting hormones in the body, lowering estrogen levels, and stopping cancer growth. It is not effective against hormone receptor-negative cancers. Adjuvant hormone therapy for breast cancer may look different depending on the type of cancer you have.

In women with ER+/HER2- breast cancer, adjuvant endocrine therapy is a key aspect of treatment. Adjuvant endocrine therapy can be given for many years after surgery to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Research suggests that when adjuvant hormone therapy is initiated after surgery, there is a lower risk of cancer coming back, or new cancer developing somewhere else in the body.

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, it is important that you work closely with your healthcare team to determine the most appropriate therapy and treatment plan.

Impact in Black Women

Disparities in breast cancer outcomes exist among different racial and ethnic groups. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Black women. While breast cancer rates are higher in White women, survival rates are lower in Black women. Black women are more likely to delay breast cancer treatment including adjuvant endocrine therapy which may play a role in these rates. You can eliminate disparities in breast cancer treatment by communicating your concerns with your healthcare provider and considering clinical trial participation.

If you have been diagnosed with early-stage ER+/HER2- breast cancer and have already had surgery to treat the breast cancer, click here to learn more about whether a clinical trial for endocrine therapy may be an option for you.

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References

• American Cancer Society Journals. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Cancer statistics, 2023.
• American Cancer Society. Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
• Endocrine therapy for breast cancer in the primary care setting. Curr Oncol. 2018 Aug; 25(4): 285–291.Published online 2018 Aug 14.
• American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status
• National Cancer Institute. Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
• American Cancer Society Journals. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Systemic therapy for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early stage and metastatic breast cancer
• Racial disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment by hormone receptor and HER2 status. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev.

This article is sponsored by Lilly.

The post Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Data informs everything, even how our health and diseases will be treated in the future. But if our community is not actively involved in the research, the likelihood of drugs and treatments not working as well for us could continue to be a reality. It’s not surprising that talk about research is met with skepticism by many Black people; the Tuskeegee experiment and other medical crimes loom large in our minds. However, an ambitious partnership between an HBCU, Meharry Medical College, and a group of pharmaceutical companies—Regeneron, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Roche—called Together for CHANGE holds promise for us. “Changing Healthcare for People of African Ancestry through an InterNational Genomics and Equity” is the mission.

Through this project, they seek to build the first-ever reference genome of 500,000 people of African ancestry and provide resources for underrepresented students to pursue STEM careers.

 Why is this important?

James E. K. Hildreth, MD, Ph.D., President and CEO of Meharry Medical College, explains that breakthroughs in gene sequencing are the key. A genome is a complete set of genetic material in a cell or organism. “The basis for diseases and interventions for diseases will be based on what we learn from the genome,” he explains.

Here’s the backstory. It took a decade to sequence the first genome in 2003, cost $2 billion, and involved 2,000 scientists. With artificial intelligence (AI) in the mix, it can be accomplished in a matter of hours for $1,000. “Thousands of genomes have now been sequenced, but only 1 in 100 come from people with African ancestry,” Dr. Hildreth explains. “We have large datasets (from the sequencing) to which we can apply AI and data science tools to find new drugs and interventions. If we are not represented in the data, we will not benefit from these powerful new tools.”

 as we move forward to some exciting times in medicine, the goal is that all of us benefit from the new insights, not just white people.

Dr. Hildreth explained that there is now a considerable effort to get us to participate in clinical trials because the scientific community learned that while some drugs work well for patients of European ancestry, they don’t work for us at all. But they didn’t know this because we hadn’t participated in the trials. “The same thing could happen with the use of genomic data if we are not included,” he says.

Lyndon J. Mitnaul, Ph.D., Executive Director of Research Initiatives at Regeneron Genetics Center, one of the pharmaceutical partners in this project, has spent the last decade at his company working on genomic research. “We knew there’s a lack of knowledge of African ancestry genomic information in the databases we’re studying. And we also knew that there is a lack of Black professionals in STEM careers,’ he says. During the social justice movement that resulted from the death of George Floyd, Regeneron wanted to make a substantive difference instead of doing something performative. They decided to incorporate their specialization, their genetic research machine. “We built the skillset and the capacity to sequence. Why don’t we apply that knowledge to the Black community to train more scientists and build a data depository where these scientists can study to help establish their careers and, at the same time, address health disparities within their community?” Dr. Mintaul explains.

Because of the historic issues between our community and inequitable practices, the companies involved have designed this initiative with some built-in protections. The pharmaceutical companies won’t be directly involved. Instead, the governing body will be a new nonprofit called the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute (DHGI). The data collected will be secured and managed by DHGI to ensure the integrity and transparency of all activities undertaken under this initiative.

All the data will be scrubbed of identifying information, so not even DHGI will know whose data they have. They also instituted an ethics committee, which Dr. Rueben C. Warren, a respected expert in Bioethics from Tuskegee University, leads.

The HBCU Connection

One of the things that is exciting about this initiative is the connection to Meharry Medical College. One of the oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers in the country was chosen as the academic convener of this project. And its students will be integral to this project. We will be generating scientists, physicians, and genetic counselors from minority communities,” Hildreth points out. “They will be at the table, in the rooms, when discoveries and breakthroughs occur. We’re also starting the first human genetic counseling at an HBCU.”

Currently, less than 5% of researchers are Black. Dr. Hildreth points out that the normal progression to becoming a researcher is obtaining an undergraduate degree, graduate school, and a Ph.D.; you become a postdoctoral fellow and rise to become a faculty member. For white students, there is no drop-off between those steps. In minority communities, we start pursuing undergraduate degrees. However, fewer of us get graduate degrees, and fewer still get to become postdoctoral fellows and faculty members because there is a drop-off in our pipeline. One of the ways they plan to counter that is to engage students early on in K-12 to make science less intimidating.

The plan includes giving students and scientists from all 107 HBCUs an opportunity to do genomic research.

Dr. Mitnaul adds that a grant for a DNA Learning Center on the school’s campus is also included. “We’re doing this because we see an opportunity to make a difference. And, at the same time, advance science by creating more diversity in genetics.”

How Can This Help Black Folks in the Future?

One of the things that Dr. Hildreth is looking forward to is collaborating with scientists in Africa. “There are going to be people in Africa who have very similar gene genomes to African Americans in the United States. This will allow us to study the influence of environment, diet, and other factors on our health,” he says. Through this assessment, they will see the difference in the susceptibility to disease and isolate the differentiators.

Dr. Mitnaul hopes that the safeguards they have put in place will help counter the existing mistrust. “If we don’t change that, we are the ones who will get hurt. What if a BRCA mutation is different from the one we know about now?” he asks. That kind of research could be vital to understanding why Black women are diagnosed more often with triple-negative breast cancer, for example.

But what excites Dr. Hildrath most is the possibility of changing the narrative regarding the Black community’s access to technology that could improve our health and the quality of our lives. “Every time there is a technological leap forward, we are on the outside looking in,” he says.

“Artificial intelligence and its potential to do harm or good overshadows anything that has come before it. We want to ensure that when AI is applied to genomics, it will allow us to answer questions we’ve never been able to. “

He uses sickle cell anemia as an example. A single mutation causes it. However, other diseases have multiple mutations, and because the genome is so large, human brainpower alone wouldn’t be able to tackle it, but machine learning is a game-changer.

Dr. Hildrath says, “I want to make sure we are part of both the data and the people researching the data, particularly regarding AI. Because when humans are involved in anything, consciously or unconsciously, bias can enter it.”

The post Does the Future Of Black Health Involve AI and Genome Sequencing? Yes, Here’s Why It Matters appeared first on Black Health Matters.

How do you think knowledge of cervical and its treatment have changed?

Felder: We’re doing better than we were but are not where we should be. Sometimes, I feel like I’m not an expert, but I am because I have experienced the disease. I have my ear to the streets talking to patients.

But the biggest problem I see is  Black women are still falling through the cracks.

Women of color across the board are being overlooked, but Black women are falling through the cracks because:

1. We are diagnosed late.
2. Our follow-up isn’t good, whether it is on us or our medical team.

I can speak to that firsthand. I often say the only difference between me and someone else who looks like me who has been diagnosed is I had great insurance and a primary care doctor who found my cancer and woman-handled me to make sure I followed up.

I kept saying, “I don’t have cancer.” My father had died from cancer, and I thought I knew what it looked like. I got all of these second opinions. One of them, an older Black female doctor at Howard University Hospital, was the catalyst that led me to schedule my hysterectomy when she told me my cervix looked like chewed-up meat. I was mad when she said that, but I scheduled the surgery.

What is different today?

Felder: We have better tools. When I was diagnosed in 2001, we only had the PAP test. The HPV test came in 2003, and the vaccine in 2006. There is still a lot of controversy surrounding the HPV vaccine, but I wholeheartedly believe in it because I see too many people of every ethnicity die of cervical cancer.

But when I see someone who looks like me and is around the same age, I have survivor’s guilt because, unlike breast cancer and blood cancers, we should absolutely be winning the war. After all, we know the cause of most cervical cancers.

We have diagnostic screening tools to detect abnormal cells to ensure that if people are diagnosed, we can get them treated early, and we have a vaccine to prevent it in future generations.

What made you start Cervivor?

I was pissed off, I was sitting at my desk in the newsroom, and there was information about a breast cancer walk. I thought, where is the walk for cervical cancer? The doctors I saw for second opinions and the one who found my cancer kept saying they saw my situation all the time. How come I am not hearing about it? They told me women thought their husbands were cheating and vice versa. I saw the need for education. Patients weren’t talking about cervical cancer because it’s embarrassing. I saw that the disease had a marketing problem.

And I couldn’t stop talking about cervical cancer. Here we are decades later and still have to talk about it. I am a Black woman from South Carolina, you don’t tell all your business. But I am also a storyteller because I worked as a television producer for many years. I created a toolbox for telling your story and getting involved. I wasn’t the first person to talk about cervical cancer, but I was the first black woman to be vocal about the disease.

I am okay being the coochie cancer lady. That wasn’t my dream growing up, that this would be part of the legacy that I leave, but I own it now.

I thought my legacy wouldn’t be the lives I brought into the world. It was going to be the lives that I saved.

But a little over a year ago, your life changed when you and your husband became parents with the help of egg donation and surrogacy. How has your son Chayton impacted your work?

This baby has become a beacon of hope for people because it is another way to share my story. A woman sent me a message that I was her surrogacy mentor. And I said, “God, you have stirred up some stuff in me.” Who knew that becoming a mother would be the continuum?

One survivor said, “It’s like your story has come full circle.”

For me, that means my son won’t have to worry about HPV. My stepdaughter won’t have to worry about HPV-related cancers. And if someone is diagnosed with an HPV-related cancer, it’ll be something that they got, not something they did to themselves because it’s so common.

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Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that develops in bone marrow and can prevent the immune system from working properly. Left unchecked, myeloma cells can continue to multiply and spread causing problems in other parts of the body. Although multiple myeloma is considered a rare cancer, it is the most common form of blood cancer among African Americans. In fact, African Americans are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with multiple myeloma compared to White Americans and are usually diagnosed at a younger age.

Evelyn, who had battled breast cancer years earlier, recalls the shock of this news, “The first few months it felt like a rollercoaster because you don’t want to believe that you have this disease.”

Through her treatment journey, she learned a lot about her condition, recognized the profound impact of a support system and became aware of the lack of representation among African Americans living with multiple myeloma. Determined to ensure that others wouldn’t have to feel alone in their own battle, she became an inspirational mentor, offering valuable insights and a comforting presence to fellow patients. With the wisdom gained through her journey, Evelyn has a wealth of advice to share, encouraging others to advocate for themselves and to never lose hope in their pursuit of a brighter tomorrow.

“Do your research.”

Evelyn knew she needed to get educated about this disease and understand her treatment options, but the heavy emotional burden made it difficult to absorb new information and ask the right questions.

Her oncologist urged her not to rely on basic internet searches for answers, which can often yield outdated information, but to seek reputable organizations, like the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and the Blood Cancer United to learn more about what multiple myeloma is and how it affects African Americans specifically. These credible sources kept her informed about treatment options, clinical trials and ways to manage the challenges associated with the disease.

One in five people living with multiple myeloma are African American, yet representation among patient advocates is limited. Evelyn recalls a conversation with an MMRF nurse who said, “A lot of times we get African American patients that call and say they want to speak to someone who looks like them, but we don’t have anyone.” It emphasized the need for better representation and support within the healthcare system, inspiring Evelyn to be that support for others living with multiple myeloma.

She recalls the first patient she mentored with fondness. “I remember pulling over and sitting in the parking lot talking for about two hours. He was crying and just trying to wrap his head around the diagnosis.” Since she had been in that position before, she began to share her experience. He saw that it wasn’t an immediate death sentence for him, but that most cases are treatable,” said Evelyn.

Their connection remains unshaken to this day, a living testament to the power of empathy and shared experiences. “He has a new outlook on life now,” she says.

“Get a second opinion.”

Her most important piece of advice to those who have just received a diagnosis is to get a second opinion from a multiple myeloma specialist. She learned that from her own oncologist who referred her to a multiple myeloma specialist. He felt her myeloma wasn’t responding as well as it could. But this doesn’t mean giving up an oncologist you’re comfortable with.

What worked for Evelyn was adding the specialist to her existing care team, expanding the treatment approaches to consider. She collaborated with her care team and they made those decisions together.

“Advocate for yourself.”

Evelyn’s experience taught her that navigating this complex disease required not only resilience but advocacy. She comes prepared with questions for her specialists, goes in for regular screenings and is keenly aware of how her body is responding to therapy. As a mentor, she empowers other patients to understand their disease and seek answers that help them feel in control of their care.

Clinical trials have played a major role in advancing treatments for multiple myeloma and other conditions, but African Americans are generally underrepresented, making it difficult to understand how treatments impact the community. As a clinical trial participant, Evelyn has encouraged others to strongly consider that option if their treatment regimen is ineffective, they are eligible and the opportunity arises. “People respond differently [to treatments]; it’s not one-size-fits-all for multiple myeloma.”

Evidence shows that African American patients who receive treatment for multiple myeloma can do just as well as, and sometimes better than, White Americans. Yet, research has shown that African Americans have benefited less from recent medical advancements that have led to improvements in survival in more recent years. As of 2022, only 4% of patients in multiple myeloma clinical trials were African American despite making up 20% of people living with multiple myeloma today. Begging Evelyn’s point, “If we don’t participate in the trial, what do we have to say?”

*        *        *        *

Evelyn’s journey has been deeply influenced by the unwavering support of her faith, family, and friends. Her faith provided her with strength, guiding her through the challenges with unwavering hope. Her family and friends, a pillar of support, offered encouragement, love, and a sense of belonging during the toughest moments.

Evelyn admits, “You have days where you give yourself a pity party. But give yourself 48 hours and then you have to get up and let it go.” When times are uncertain, Evelyn offers perspective she can stand by, “I think that with all experiences there’s something good that comes out of it.”

For more information about multiple myeloma and resources to help navigate your care in your discussions with your healthcare provider, visit MyelomaCentral.com.

Real patient compensated for sharing her experience.

The post What One Warrior Wants You to Know About Multiple Myeloma appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The groundbreaking survey conducted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Los, Inc. Angeles Chapter brought together a diverse and representative group of respondents to shed light on the breast cancer disparities faced by African American women. In total, over 1,000 African-American women participated in this comprehensive survey, representing a broad spectrum of backgrounds and experiences. The age range of the respondents was carefully selected, focusing on women between the ages of 35 and 45, as this demographic has been identified as particularly vulnerable to breast cancer disparities. By including women from various geographic locations and socioeconomic backgrounds, the survey aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and barriers faced by African-American women in their fight against breast cancer.

Approximately 20% of the survey participants reported that they had been diagnosed with breast cancer, highlighting the significant prevalence of this disease within the African-American community. For the remaining respondents who had not been diagnosed, the specter of breast cancer loomed large due to concerns related to family history, genetic factors, or other circumstances. This diverse group of respondents, including both those who had faced a breast cancer diagnosis and those who lived with the fear of it, allowed for a nuanced exploration of the breast cancer landscape among African-American women. The demographic diversity and the range of experiences shared by the survey participants made the study a powerful platform for identifying disparities and advocating for change.

The Harsh Reality

Breast cancer disparities among African-American women are deeply concerning. The study highlighted several alarming trends: late-stage diagnosis and aggressive cancer. A significant number of African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a late stage, leading to more aggressive forms of the disease. These late diagnoses result in higher mortality rates among younger African-American women.

Dr. Linda James (past president of the National Coalition of the 100 Black Women, Inc. Los Angeles chapter) is proud of this study because of the way it brings the community together, “It means we have a voice. The community says what it thinks and it’s not just one person saying it…it’s everyone’s experience.”

Dense Breast Tissue and Triple-Negative Genotype: The study found that African American women often have dense breast tissue, which is associated with a triple-negative genotype. This particular type of breast cancer can be more challenging to treat and is often detected later, leading to poorer outcomes.

Underrepresentation in Clinical Trials: African American women are markedly underrepresented in breast cancer clinical trials. This underrepresentation not only hampers progress in understanding the disease but also raises ethical concerns rooted in historical medical injustices.

Limited Access to Advanced Screening: While some advanced screening methods like MRI have been shown to be more sensitive and effective, they are not widely accessible to African American women. Inadequate access to these technologies contributes to disparities in early detection.

The Urgent Need for Action

Addressing breast cancer disparities in African-American women demands immediate action on multiple fronts.

Clinical Trials Inclusivity: Efforts must be made to ensure that clinical trials are inclusive and diverse. African-American women should be actively recruited for breast cancer trials to ensure that treatment strategies are tailored to their specific needs.

Improved Screening: The study underscores the importance of early detection. Accessible and affordable screening methods, including advanced technologies like MRI and 3D mammography, should be made available to African-American women.

Education and Advocacy: Community education and advocacy programs should be launched to increase awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early screening among African-American women. Collaboration with trusted community leaders and organizations is essential in this regard.

Genetic Testing: The study also highlights the importance of genetic testing, especially for African-American women with a family history of breast cancer. This can help identify those at higher risk and guide treatment decisions.

Trust-Building: Healthcare providers must work diligently to rebuild trust within African-American communities, addressing historical grievances and ensuring transparency in medical research and care.

Collaboration: Collaboration is key in the fight against breast cancer disparities. Organizations like the CDC, FDA, NIH, and medical societies should collaborate with community organizations and advocacy groups like the National Coalition of 100 Black Women to develop comprehensive strategies.

The study conducted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Los Angeles Chapter serves as a stark reminder of the disparities that persist in breast cancer care for African American women. These disparities are deeply rooted in historical injustices and systemic issues. However, it is not a hopeless situation. With concerted efforts from healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and communities, we can bridge the gap in breast cancer outcomes for African-American women.

The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated. It’s a call for action, a plea for change, and an opportunity to save lives. Breast cancer does not discriminate, and neither should our efforts to combat it. By addressing these disparities head-on, we can move closer to a world where all women, regardless of their background, have equal access to early detection, effective treatments, and, ultimately, better chances of survival.

The post Comprehensive Study on Breast Cancer Disparities conducted by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Los Angeles Chapter appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What is Brain Cancer?

There are over 100 different types of brain tumors. While not all of them are malignant brain tumors, they can be life-threatening simply because of the complexity of the brain and the symptoms they can cause. Brain and spinal cord tumors can affect everything from the pituitary gland to the cerebrospinal fluid. Essentially, any part of the brain and central nervous system is susceptible to cancer.

Brain Cancer vs. Brain Tumors

All brain cancers are tumors, but not all tumor cells are cancerous. Some tumors are slow growing and don’t pose an immediate threat. Benign brain tumors can be any size and may be malignant brain tumors in the future.

Brain Tumor Types

From gliomas affecting glial cells to germ cell tumors that begin in reproductive cells that travel to the brain, both primary and secondary brain tumors are serious conditions that should be treated by an experienced team of providers.

• Benign Brain Tumors: These are noncancerous brain tumors that are slow growing and may only need to be watched for signs of cancer in the future. They can be located anywhere in the brain or spinal cord.
• Malignant Brain Tumors: Cancerous brain tumors are primary brain tumors that start in the brain or spinal cord. A brain tumor that starts here may metastasize and spread to another area of the body.
• Metastatic Brain Tumors: Also called secondary brain tumors, these originate in another area of the body and spread to the brain. They commonly begin as lung cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

Risk Factors for Brain Cancer

The American Cancer Society, after researching brain and spinal cord cancer extensively, has not found any risk factors for brain tumors. While some brain tumor types can be linked to radiation therapy used to treat other types of cancer, such as leukemia, other tumors may have no apparent cause. Still, there are some inherited conditions like neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and Turcot syndrome that may put you at greater risk for specific brain cancers. Many believe that cell phone use leads to brain cancer, and there are ongoing studies to determine the risk, but there is no known connection at this time.

Brain Tumor Symptoms

The brain is complex and the symptoms caused by a tumor will vary depending on the location of it and its size. For example, vision problems could be a sign of a tumor affecting the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, or brain stem, while an inability to look up may show a pineal gland tumor. The symptoms you experience are clues that your healthcare team will initially use to diagnose the tumor and begin tests to pinpoint it.

• Double vision and other vision changes
• Difficulty swallowing (brain stem)
• Lactation, even in men (pituitary gland)
• A change in menstrual cycle
• Weakness or paralysis (frontal lobe)
• Confusion
• A change in speech or hearing (occipital lobe or temporal lobe)
• Memory problems
• Loss of balance (cerebellum)
• A feeling of pressure near the tumor
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Siezures

Brain Tumor Treatment

Brain tumor treatment will be different based on individual circumstances. Your team of experienced physicians and other providers will recommend the best treatments. However, these are some of the available treatments that they may offer.

• Craniotomy: Brain surgery to remove the tumor is often one of the first suggestions depending on its size and location.
• Radiation Therapy: This treatment can shrink the tumor, especially if it’s too large to remove initially.
• Brachytherapy: Radiation therapy can be targeted to the brain tumor by surgically placing a radioactive item next to it.
• Chemotherapy: Strong medications are used to kill cancer cells. They often use it with other cancer treatments.
• Immunotherapy: Also called biological therapy, immunotherapy helps to boost your body’s natural fighting ability.
• Targeted Therapy: Drugs fight the specific type of tumor cells present, leaving surrounding brain tissue healthy.

African Americans and Brain Cancer

Black people, and Black men in particular, are more affected by brain cancer than other races. Disparities in the healthcare system can account for some of the problem, but not all. African Americans may be more susceptible simply because of their ethnic background.

Most Common Tumor Subtypes

The six most common brain tumor types for African American adults are lymphoma, meningioma (both benign and malignant), glioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and anaplastic astrocytoma. According to a 2014 study published in the Medical Science Monitor, those aged 20 to 49 are most susceptible to lymphoma, while those over 50 are more likely to develop glioblastoma.

The Survival Statistics

The survival rates for those with brain cancer vary depending on multiple factors, including the type, location, how advanced the cancer is when found, responsiveness to treatment, and more. However, there are general estimates created based on recent studies and published by the American Cancer Society. Ependymoma has the highest average five-year survival rate when caught early at over 90% while glioblastoma has the lowest. For those over 55, the survival rate is just 6%.

Pediatric Brain Cancer

Leukemia was once the deadliest childhood cancer, but that has since been replaced by brain cancer. One contributing factor is racial disparities in healthcare. Over recent years, survival rates for children with leukemia have improved, while those with brain cancer have declined. Because glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most common brain cancers in African Americans and mixed-race children, the length of time before receiving a diagnosis, the quality of treatment, and post-treatment care are all playing large roles in survival rates.

One study evaluated patients under the age of 19 from 2000 to 2015 and found that five-year survival rates for non-Hispanic White children were over 50% while African American children had an average survival rate of just 44%, the lowest of all races represented.

Barriers to Treating Brain Tumors

The barriers to treating brain cancers are the same for both children and adults. Unfortunately, a brain tumor can present with symptoms that are brushed aside far too long and a patient may not receive a diagnosis until the cancer has advanced and treatment options are limited. Even after receiving a diagnosis, a patient may not have access to the care they need for proper treatment of brain cancer.

Socioeconomic Factors

Many African Americans live in low-income neighborhoods without access to a primary care physician who may notice brain tumor symptoms early. If they do, there may not be a large hospital network or specialist provider nearby that can treat their brain cancer. Black people are less likely to have health insurance coverage, so paying for this treatment may be challenging or impossible. Even the cost of taking time off work or requiring family members to do so in order to take them to medical appointments may be too high a financial burden for those diagnosed with any type of life-threatening illness like cancer, limiting their options for treatment.

Provider and Systemic Racism

Providers who do not understand the differences in care required by the Black community may not recognize brain cancer symptoms or treat them as seriously as they might for a non-Hispanic White patient. This racial equality bias within the healthcare system may result in a delay of treatment that can allow the cancer to advance. Systemic racism has been a part of Medicare and Medicaid since the beginning, influenced by early funding and race relations at the time. While policies are beginning to change, it can be more challenging for African American patients to get the care they need, especially when struggling through an already difficult time.

Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials

The biggest barrier to treating Black people with brain cancer is simply not understanding how brain tumors affect them. This is because there is a lack of diversity in clinical trials. Minorities in general are underrepresented in the trials that have published results as well as information about the races included in the study. As many as 70% of recent clinical trials do not publish or have not noted the ethnic background of those taking part, which makes it difficult to understand how brain cancer and various treatments are different for African Americans.

The Black Population and Brain Cancer

Is it a benign tumor? Is it malignant? Do you have to worry about secondary brain tumors and it having begun somewhere else? With no known risk factors for brain cancer, it’s difficult to catch early, but even more challenging for Black people who suffer from socioeconomic and healthcare disparities that become barriers to diagnosis and treatment. Only with awareness of brain cancer and these barriers can we ensure everyone gets the treatment they need and deserve. Black Health Matters is working diligently to do just that.

The post Empowering African Americans in the Battle Against Brain Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Types of Oral Cancers

As with most conditions, there are several types of mouth cancer. It may be in a specific place initially, and possibly spread to other locations within the mouth, to the lymph nodes, and throughout the body. Much like breast cancer and other forms, the risk of spreading is abundant and should be monitored.

Most oral cancers are squamous cells that line the tissues of the mouth. Other common types of mouth cancer include lymphoma, which typically affects the lymph nodes and the tonsils, while minor salivary gland carcinomas affect the salivary glands of the mouth and throat.

Common locations for oral cancers include:

• Lip Cancer: This is the most common type of mouth cancer and typically has a positive prognosis when caught early.
• Gum Cancer: Typically linked to chewing tobacco and alcohol use, this cancer can quickly spread to the jaw.
• Tongue Cancer: When in the front two-thirds of the tongue, it can quickly spread to the lymph nodes.
• Doctors classify cancer at the back of the tongue, tonsils, and back of the mouth as throat cancer.

Determining Severity

Cancer Research UK breaks down the stages and grades of oral cancers. Determining the severity of the cancer is an essential first step for diagnosis before treatment can begin. It helps to ensure that treatment is as effective as possible.

Oral Cancer Staging

Doctors can use two methods for determining the stage of your oral cancer. The first is clinical staging, using results from tests and scans. They typically perform pathological staging if you will have surgery to remove the cancer and they will send part of the removed tissue to the lab for testing. It is more precise and can help determine the type of cancer as well as the cancer’s location if it has spread.

There are two ways to stage mouth cancer:

• TNM: Your doctor will consider the size and depth of the tumor, whether it has spread to the lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to another part of the body.
• Number Stages: Your doctor will assign a number zero (pre-cancer) through 4 A, B, or C based on how invasive the cancer has become.

Mouth Cancer Grades

Oral cancer grading differs from staging. This step involves the appearance of cancer cells, from looking like typical, healthy cells to abnormal cells well differentiated from the healthy cells around the tumor. Your doctor will assess them and assign a grade 1, 2 or 3. A “Gx” grade means it can’t be determined.

Oral Cancer Risk Factors

There are many lifestyle choices, health conditions, and other variables that may increase your chances of developing oral cancer. Remember that you have some control over several factors, like smoking cigarettes, that could improve your health and risk, while not others.

• Nicotine Products: The most common cause of mouth cancer is tobacco use, especially smoking or chewing tobacco. While those who use nicotine themselves are at highest risk, even secondhand exposure can lead to cancer.
• Alcohol Use: Drinking alcohol is one of the top risk factors for mouth cancer and heavy drinkers or those who drink and use nicotine products are most susceptible.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV): Not all types of HPV cause cancer, but some are high risk. For example, HPV16 causes approximately 70% of all cases of oral cancers.
• Gender: Oral cancer is twice as common in men than women. Researchers believe smoking causes the higher rates of oral cancer in men.
• Age: Most cases of mouth cancer occur in those over the age of 50 unless caused by an HPV-related infection. This is because it takes time for cells to mutate and develop.
• Weight: Based on statistical research, weight has some effect on your likelihood of developing oral cancer.
• Diet: People who eat a diet low in vegetables and fruits seem to be at a much higher risk. Eating a well-balanced diet may help improve risk factors for many health conditions like diabetes.
• UV Light: Sunlight contributes to skin cancer and may also affect rates of lip cancer, a form of mouth cancer.
• Co-Existing Health Conditions: Those who have Fanconi anemia or Dyskeratosis congenita are also at higher risk of developing oral cancer because of their predisposition to blood diseases.

Possible Treatment Options

Your primary care physician will refer you to a specialist who will evaluate your condition and recommend the best treatment plan. It could include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, depending on the type, location and severity of the cancer. You will probably work with a team of providers, including one or more of those listed here.

• Otolaryngologist
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Radiation Oncologist
• Medical Oncologist
• Plastic Surgeon

Detecting Oral Cancer Early

An early diagnosis is important for improving survival rates. Healthcare professionals can easily spot signs of mouth cancer by looking for lesions within the oral cavity, feeling for enlarged lymph nodes, asking about family history, and referring a patient to a specialist for any suspect symptoms.

Symptoms of oral cancer may include:

• Changes in the skin
• Lumps
• Numbness
• Pain or tenderness
• Change in bite
• Problems swallowing
• Difficulty chewing
• Hoarseness
• Feeling like something is caught in the throat
• Sore throat
• Ringing in the ears or ear pain

Mouth Cancer in African Americans

There are many barriers for Black men and women with mouth cancer, from biological differences affecting successful treatment to the number of people who use nicotine products to access to health care resources ensuring early detection and proper cancer treatment.

Genetic Differences

Two recent studies have shown that a Black person with oral cancer will likely respond differently to treatment. The first, published in 2021 in JCO Oncology Practice, showed that African Americans have fewer immune cells within oral cancer tumors and they don’t respond as effectively to the same treatments as Caucasian patients. Tumors may also show more instances of mutations. The second, published in 2022 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, reviewed the treatment outcomes of both the Black population and white people enrolled in clinical trials. In clinical trials, all patients receive the same cancer treatment, so socioeconomic factors are minimized. The results showed that biological factors still play a large role in survival rates.

Lifestyle Choices

The Oral Cancer Foundation reports that those living below the poverty line are more likely to smoke than those that don’t. Given that many African Americans live in poorer neighborhoods and are more likely to suffer from un- or underemployment, this puts them at higher risk of smoking, using chewing tobacco, or using other forms of nicotine-based products. Some states within the US also have higher rates of smoking than others. The states with the highest rates of smokers are Nevada, Kentucky, and Ohio, while those with the lowest rates are Utah, Hawaii, and California. Compared to others, Blacks or multiracial people self-identifying as African American are more likely to smoke than Caucasians or Hispanics.

Related Conditions

There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). While not all of them cause cancer, some strains are more common within the Black community may explain why mouth cancer is so much more prevalent. Some types of HPV infections were more common in Caucasians, like types 16 and 51, while others were more common in Blacks. Type 35 is one of the highest risk factors for mouth cancer.

Access to Resources

Why is access to resources so important? Researchers have well documented that early detection is less likely with minimal access to resources, such as adequate health insurance and local medical providers. Studies show that if cases are discovered early, the 5-year survival rate can reach 85%, but only 28% of all cases are found early. However, more than half of all oral cancers are diagnosed after having spread to local tissues such as the lymph nodes. The survival rate at this point drops to 68%. If the cancer has spread further, it drops to just 40%.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Black people are less likely to have health insurance because of a financial barrier. They are also more likely to live below the poverty line but not qualify for state financial aid or not be able to utilize those resources if they do because of lack of transportation. Food insecurity may lead families to focus more on day-to-day needs and not long-term care like their health. This reduces the chance they will receive a routine dental exam with an accompanied oral cancer exam.

It’s also clear that Blacks do not receive the same level of care that white Americans do. Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently found that race, among other factors, played a role in whether a dentist even screened for mouth cancer during a routine dental exam. Dentists may also not provide education about the risk factors and the steps they can take to help prevent oral cancer, especially smoking and human papillomavirus.

Oral Cancer Awareness Month: Recognizing Black Americans

The first step in improving oral health and bettering the survival rates of mouth cancer, especially for Black Americans, is to acknowledge the problem. The American Cancer Society reports that cancer rates for Black people have decreased since the 1990s and this is a trend we wish to see continue. Black Health Matters will do our part by raising awareness of the effects of mouth cancer on the African American population.

The post A Hidden Danger: What You Should Know About Oral Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

You may be offered the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial at some point during your treatment for breast cancer. So, if you’re considering a breast cancer clinical trial, what would you experience?

First, do your research. Findings from clinical trials determine whether or not potential new treatments will become standard care for breast cancer. Some treatments that are initially used for metastatic breast cancer may even go on to be tested and used to treat early-stage breast cancer or other cancer types. It’s also possible that drugs previously approved for other types of cancer may later be tested for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

A few considerations:

• Side effects: The risks of a potential new treatment may not be fully understood, so there may be unexpected side effects. Though testing keeps risks as small as possible, a new treatment’s side effects often aren’t fully revealed until after long-term testing and follow-up. However, as additional side effects or safety information become known, that information is provided to physicians and regularly updated as new information becomes available.

• Travel time and cost: While trials are done all across the country, it’s not guaranteed there will be an appropriate trial in your local area or with your original oncologist. However, trial participants typically receive their care in the same places that standard treatments are given—in clinics or doctors’ offices. If travel to a separate site is required, some trial organizers may provide transportation or reimburse participants for the cost of travel.

• Health care costs: The costs of the potential new treatment will usually be covered by the study itself, and many health insurers will cover the standard care provided in the study as they would current breast cancer treatments. However, it’s important to check with the study team and your insurer to make sure there won’t be any unexpected costs of joining the study (such as out-of-network fees).

Each clinical trial is led by a head researcher (called a principal investigator or PI), who works with a team of other scientists and healthcare professionals. The way the research team designs and conducts a clinical trial can vary based on the study’s goals and other factors.

If you’ve been asked to take part in a trial, your physician or a research nurse will discuss exactly what’s involved with you. You will be given written information with all the details of the trial. This should include information about the type of trial, the possible benefits and risks, and whether extra tests or hospital appointments are needed. All information about participants is kept confidential.

Participants will be regularly observed, and data on their cases will be carefully recorded and reviewed and compared to those of others in the trial. You may have extra visits in between treatments to make sure that there are no unexpected side effects.

Many safeguards are in place to look out for the welfare of clinical trial participants. These safeguards can’t guarantee that you won’t have complications, but they are meant to reduce risk as much as possible. Clinical trials are overseen by an investigational review board (IRB) to protect the rights and welfare of trial participants.

If at any time during the study you or your doctor feel it’s in your best interest to stop participating in the trial, you will be free to do so. And it won’t in any way affect your ability to be treated in the future.

Remember, like all aspects of cancer care, the decision to join a clinical trial is a personal one. Even if you decide not to join a clinical trial now, it doesn’t mean you can’t join one later if you’re eligible. For information on specific breast cancer studies, visit Gilead’s clinical trials website.

The post What Happens When You Join a Breast Cancer Clinical Trial? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer, a Philadelphia nonprofit that connects people with trusted information and a community of support, offers these tips on how to tell partners, children, and parents about your diagnosis.

Talking to your partner or spouse about your metastatic breast cancer diagnosis

When you tell your partner or spouse about your diagnosis, they may understandably be shocked, overwhelmed, or scared about what life will be like now. This is a significant change for your life and theirs, and each of you needs time to adjust in whatever way works for you.

Here are some common partner concerns, and ways to talk about them together:

• Let your partner know what you need. If you can, try to be as specific as possible. For instance, maybe you need help with laundry or preparing meals.

• If you haven’t already, invite your partner or spouse to go with you to a doctor appointment so they can understand more about your diagnosis, the kinds of treatment you may have, and side effects that you may experience.

• Your partner or spouse may also be concerned about physical intimacy and how that may change. It can help to talk honestly with your partner about how treatment affects your desire for and experience of sex, and to explore new ways to stay physically and emotionally connected.

• Schedule regular time to just be together and talk honestly with each other about what’s happening. Let your partner know how you’re feeling emotionally and physically and ask them how they’re feeling.

• Sometimes the changes that come with a serious diagnosis can trigger fear or anger in a partner or spouse. If your partner is not responding in a way that feels supportive to you, suggest that the two of you meet with a therapist who works with couples affected by serious illness.

How to talk to your children about your metastatic breast cancer diagnosis

For many parents, it’s a first instinct to try to protect children from news about a difficult diagnosis. One of the hardest parts of telling children about a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis is that it is not curable, and that treatment is ongoing. But it’s important to be as honest as possible.

Experts say that there is no right or wrong way to talk to children about a diagnosis, although there are tips to guide the conversation:

• Don’t assume children, even very young ones, won’t find out if you don’t tell them.
• Use accurate, specific words that are age- and developmentally appropriate. Since you know your child best, you may already know what will work well.
• Be honest but emphasize that your doctors have medicines that they hope will help you.
• Let them know what they can expect in their day-to-day experience. For example: “On treatment days, I’ll be tired, so Uncle Mark will pick you up from softball practice.”

• Tell them you will let them know if there are changes in your health situation.
• Invite them to ask questions and check in with them for regular follow-up conversations.
• Particularly for young children, consider sharing your diagnosis with their teachers and additional caregivers so that they can best support your child’s social and emotional needs.

How to talk to your parents about your metastatic breast cancer diagnosis

Telling a parent that you’ve been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer can bring up many extreme emotions for all of you. Still, it’s important to be honest and let them know.

Here are some ways to have the conversation:

• Schedule some uninterrupted time to talk with your parents about your diagnosis.
• It can help to rehearse what you’re going to say ahead of time. If it’s comfortable, try role-playing what you want to say with a sibling or your partner.
• Share your honest feelings with your parents and let them know what you need.
• Stop, listen, and observe their body language from time to time to see if they’re understanding what you’re telling them.
• Encourage them to ask you any questions they may have.

While all of these tips can be very useful in telling your loved ones about your metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, it can still be an emotionally and mentally difficult process. Especially if family members react poorly. Joining and national or local cancer patient support group, whether virtual or in-person, can be a great way to connect with other people who are facing similar situations.

The post Talking to Your Family About Your Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Metastatic breast cancer, also classified as stage 4 breast cancer, means the cancer has spread from your breast to distant organs such as your bones, lungs, or other parts of your body.

For some patients, metastatic cancer is first identified at initial breast cancer diagnosis however for most patients, metastatic cancer occurs because previous treatment didn’t destroy all the cancer cells. Sometimes, a few cells remain dormant, or are hidden and undetectable. Then, for reasons providers don’t fully understand, the cells begin to grow and spread again.

Around 170,000 people in the United States are living with metastatic breast cancer. Fewer than 1 in 3 women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer.

There are currently no proven ways to prevent metastatic breast cancer. But researchers are working on treatments that may prevent cancer from spreading (metastasizing) and/or coming back (recurring).

The symptoms of metastatic breast cancer depend on where the cancer cells have invaded:

Symptoms of bone metastases:

• Bone pain
• Bones that break or fracture more easily
• Swelling

Symptoms of brain metastases:

• Worsening headaches or pressure in the head
• Visual disturbances
• Seizures
• Nausea and vomiting
• Behavior or personality changes

Symptoms of liver metastases:

• Jaundice
• Itchy skin or rash
• Stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting

Symptoms of lung metastases:

• Cough that won’t go away
• Difficulty catching your breath
• Chest pain

Other symptoms of metastatic breast cancer:

• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Poor appetite

If your doctor has reason to suspect your disease has metastasized, and you have any of the above signs that your breast cancer has spread, your doctor may perform follow-up tests. These include imaging tests, blood tests, and biopsies of the suspected metastatic lesion.

Some people are at higher risk for metastatic cancer even after finishing initial cancer treatment. The risk depends on various features of the cancer, including tumor characteristics (type of cancer cells), stage at your first diagnosis, and treatments you received.

For women with metastatic breast cancer, systemic drug therapies are the main treatments. These may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted drugs, immunotherapy, or some combination of these. Surgery and/or radiation therapy may be useful in certain situations.

Although systemic drugs are the main treatment for metastatic breast cancer, local and regional treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, or regional chemotherapy are sometimes used as well. These can help treat breast cancer in a specific part of the body, but they are very unlikely to get rid of all the cancer.

Several potential new treatments for metastatic breast cancer are being evaluated in clinical trials. Most of these are drug therapies, including many of the breast cancer studies found on Gilead’s clinical trials website.

The right treatment plan can improve survival for people with metastatic breast cancer. However, survival rates vary and are dependent on a number of factors including type/biology of the breast cancer, parts of the body involved, and individual characteristics.

Living with metastatic breast cancer can be challenging. Your care team can help provide physical and emotional support in addition to your cancer treatment. Talk to them about how you can:

• • Eat the most nutritious diet for your needs
  • Exercise regularly

• Manage stress
• Get emotional support, including finding support groups
• Reach out for help from friends, family and loved ones
• Find mental health services
• Find complementary therapies

The post What is Metastatic Breast Cancer?  appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Metastatic breast cancer, also classified as stage 4 breast cancer, means the cancer hasMetastatic spread from your breast to distant organs such as your bones, lungs, or other parts of your body.

Around 170,000 people in the United States are living with metastatic breast cancer. Fewer than 1 in 3 women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer. Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than White women, according to the American Cancer Society.

Among women under 50, the disparity is even greater: The mortality rate among young Black women, who have a higher incidence of aggressive cancers, is double that of young White women.

Advances in early detection and treatment have dramatically reduced breast cancer’s ability to take lives overall, but it’s clear that these breakthroughs haven’t benefited all groups equally—and this disparity has remained unchanged since 2011.

According to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the gap in breast cancer incidence and outcome among Black women is complex and multifactorial. Social, economic, and behavioral factors may partially account for these disparities.

Some things are out of human control, including factors like genetic predisposition, how genetics change over time due to behavior and environment, and differences in the biological makeup of cancerous tumors, Evelyn Taiwo, MD, attending physician in medical oncology at New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital told Allure.

“There are biological differences in breast cancer Black women tend to have. They have a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, which is more aggressive,” said Taiwo.

Black women, for instance, tend to have denser breast tissue than White women, according to this study. Dense breast tissue is a risk factor for breast cancer as it makes it harder to find the disease at earlier stages. Women with dense breasts are 1.2 times more likely to develop breast cancer than those with average breast density.

But some things are in one’s control and can be managed. Taiwo mentioned that ensuring standard of care treatment is discussed with all patients is one of the places where physicians can combat disparities. As one example, Black women are referred for genetic testing at disproportionately lower rates than White women.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation says the industry has only recently been able to decipher some of the underlying biology to explain the higher incidence of aggressive tumors in Black women and to identify biomarkers that could ultimately inform personalized therapies and improve outcomes for Black women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Taiwo explained that this plays into not only prognosis of predisposition to breast cancer but also potential exclusion from life-saving medicine and treatments.

Expanding Black women’s participation in research is critical. But too often Black women aren’t being directed to trials. According to a study presented at an American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting last June, the majority of Black women with metastatic breast cancer don’t get enrolled into clinical trials. Only 40% of Black respondents said they were even offered a trial.

Black patients can take matters into their own hands by looking up clinical trial options in their area and discussing those options with their doctor. For instance, Gilead has several active clinical trials to evaluate treatments for people with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

With more work to do on reducing the racial disparities in breast cancer treatment, researchers are focusing on finding answers to the following questions:

• Are doctors offering the right treatment at the right time to Black women?
• Are doctors explaining treatment options as well to Black women as they do with White women?
• Do Black women have more trouble paying for out-of-pocket expenses?
• Is there enough follow-up from doctors in terms of the importance of early treatment that works well?

• Do Black women have tumors that don’t respond as well to common cancer drugs?
• Can community outreach boost breast cancer screenings and help people stick with treatment?
• How can we increase the number of Black and brown doctors in our workforce faster?

Experts say awareness of the disparities in breast cancer for Black women and understanding what is driving that disparity are important first steps to finding ways to improve cancer outcomes for all women.

The post Black Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer Face Disparities in Care appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Keep reading for more about how cancer affects black adults, breast cancer screening methods, recommended screenings by age, and how to reduce your risk.

The Importance of Early Detection

Most breast cancers are easily treated when caught early, so you must perform breast self-exams regularly and discuss your risk factors with a knowledgeable provider. There are many types of breast cancers , including invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and Paget disease. Black Americans are much more likely to be affected by aggressive forms of cancer, and death rates are higher. Understanding cancer and knowing your body are key to detecting the changes that indicate any disease.

Breast Cancer in Black Women

Like most health concerns affecting African Americans, breast cancer disproportionately affects the black population. There are many reasons, including the healthcare system, social and economic problems, and even race biology.

Healthcare Disparities

Black people experience healthcare differently in the US, and this is a complex problem. According to Pew Research , nearly half of the people interviewed said that providers and facilities often provided a lower level of care. A similar number reported that they were less likely to receive advanced care. There are even more reasons why these are true, like the disproportionate number of black providers in the healthcare system and an undertone of racial bias.

Social and Economic Issues

There is a long history of Black Americans being affected by social and economic concerns. Breast cancer screening is another way in which the disparities are pretty evident. Without access to quality medical care, medical breast cancer screening or diagnostic testing may not be available. This is especially true in low-income areas with very little patient education.

Some ethnic groups are more likely to develop breast cancer because they are also more likely to have pre-existing conditions, such as being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking, or having diabetes or high blood pressure. These are all more common within the African American population.

Biological Factors

Black Americans are more susceptible to aggressive forms like triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC. It seems many black women are also diagnosed very young, especially compared to other races or multiracial people. Even if caught early, many of these cancers have limited treatment options, which have affected death rates. These findings highlight the need for more research and understanding of why other groups are not affected similarly.

Types of Breast Cancer Screening

The Monthly Breast Self Exam (BSE)

The CDC, American Cancer Society, and non-profit organizations like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation agree that regular self-breast exams are vital for early detection. By performing them consistently and at roughly the same time each month, you’ll get to know their texture and overall feel. Then, it’s easier to sense if something feels off. You should always follow the suggested guidelines for BSEs, so you are more likely to feel a breast lump. Additional changes that you should look for include:

• Swelling : This may affect only one breast or one area of ​​a breast. It may even be located under the armpit near the lymph nodes.
• Skin Irritation : A rash or redness may be a reaction to new laundry detergent, but your doctor should evaluate any signs of persistent skin irritation.
• Nipple Discharge : Not all breast cancer occurs with a lump. The only noticeable sign may be abnormal nipple discharge like ductal carcinoma.
• Dimpling : If one area of ​​the skin around your breast begins to look like an orange peel, it could be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC.
• Nipple Changes : Some changes are common and expected, like during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, you should discuss any unexpected ones immediately, like redness or pain, flaking, or turning inward.

All About Mammograms

Mammograms get a bad rap as being painful. Although you’ll likely still feel pressure, you shouldn’t be uncomfortable. These tests take x-rays of your breasts with a special machine designed to compress breast tissue enough that any abnormalities can easily be seen.

2D vs. 3D Mammograms

Many older women, especially African Americans in lower-income neighborhoods, are familiar with 2D mammograms that appear as traditional x-ray images. However, 3D mammograms produce a 3-dimensional view of the breast through multiple digital 2D images. Either mammogram offers breast cancer screening vital to early detection, but 3D mammograms may be able to detect other types of cancer, especially in black people with more risk factors.

Screening vs. Diagnostic Mammogram

A diagnostic mammogram is performed the same way as one for screening purposes but requires many more pictures to ensure the radiologist has a better view of the area in question. A 3D mammogram may be ordered for diagnostic reasons.

Genetic Testing

BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 are DNA gene mutations that increase a person’s chances of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives. While other genes could also indicate an increased risk, these are the two most common and well-known. Not everyone should get genetic testing for breast cancer, mainly because testing positive for the gene does not prove you will get it. Genetic testing should be considered along with many other risk factors, such as ethnic background and family history, to determine the likelihood of breast cancer.

Other Screening Methods

Monthly BSEs and mammograms are routine and should become part of your life once you reach the right age or your doctor has recommended them. However, there are many other ways in which your provider may screen for breast cancer, especially if you’ve detected a lump.

• Clinical Breast Exam : These are performed by your provider, typically at your well-woman check-up. How often you need them is mainly determined by your age.
• Breast Ultrasound : An ultrasound is typically performed after a lump is felt. In most cases, it can rule out a lump as a cyst or dense fatty tissue instead of a mass fairly quickly.
• Breast MRI : If other tests have not definitively ruled out any chance of breast cancer, an MRI is usually the next step. They are much more detailed and accurate.
• Thermography : This type of testing produces results similar to an infrared camera. Any areas with an inflammatory response in the breast tissue show up brighter. You’ll likely need a traditional mammogram if anything shows abnormal with thermography.
• Tissue Biopsy : If a lump or mass is detected and any of the above diagnostic tests have not ruled out cancer, your provider will order a biopsy to be tested at a lab.

Screening Suggestions by Age

Your age will primarily determine the type of screening recommended. The list below provides recommendations for most healthy adults. However, your provider may suggest some screenings earlier, like starting yearly mammograms in your 30s, due to risk factors or because you’ve received another diagnosis closely related to breast cancer.

• Monthly self-breast exams starting at age 20
• Lifestyle counseling and screening for related cancers (thyroid, ovarian, etc.) starting at age 30
• Annual clinical breast exams and mammograms starting at age 40

Lowering Your Risk for Breast Cancer

In addition to BSEs and mammograms, the American Cancer Society recommends many ways to lower your risk of developing breast cancer. Remember, lifestyle changes may be challenging but could prevent many other diseases. Others include high blood pressure and diabetes, also risk factors for breast cancer.

• Lose Weight (or Maintain a Healthy Weight)
• Exercise Regularly
• Avoid (or Limit) Alcohol Intake

The most common type of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma which forms in the milk ducts. It can be either non-invasive and stay within the breast tissue or an invasive ductal carcinoma and spread. Women who can and wish to may also want to consider having a baby. This has been shown to significantly impact the risk of this type of breast cancer, as you have breastfed for at least six months.

Hormonal treatments for menopause symptoms may increase your risk. You should discuss non-hormonal or other treatment options with your provider if you have concerns.

For Those at High Risk

Prevention and early detection are even more crucial if you are at higher risk. Fortunately, there are ways you can stay one step ahead. Genetic testing is becoming more common and may even be covered by some insurance plans. Your provider may suggest taking medications if you test positive for cancer-causing genes.

While a more drastic approach, your provider may also discuss preventative surgery. This will largely depend on family history and genetic testing to determine the most likely type of breast cancer you would develop. Race, a prior diagnosis, and other factors could also play a role, but surgery comes with its own risks and should be considered carefully.

Putting It All Together

Screening for breast cancer improves the chances of catching it early and having the most treatment options. Because African Americans are at higher risk of developing a more aggressive type, noticing a breast lump or other changes in your body is essential. Follow the screening checklist above and always follow up with your provider if you have any concerns. Black Health Matters aims to address the impact of breast cancer risk among black people by supporting research and awareness.

Breast Cancer Awareness ‘2024 is brought to you in partnership with Merck .

The post Official Black Health Matters Breast Cancer Screening Guide appeared first on Black Health Matters.

ER+/HER2- breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer. It makes up nearly 70% of all breast cancer cases. It is more commonly diagnosed in postmenopausal women, but it can also affect premenopausal women.

Estrogen is a hormone that is naturally produced by the body. In ER-positive breast cancers, the presence of estrogen promotes cancer cell growth. Medication treatment options for ER-positive cancers work to stop or slow this growth.In HER2-positive cancers, there is an overexpression of HER2 protein which is not applicable in this type of cancer. In HER2-negative cancers, this overproduction protein is not present.

Click here to learn more about an ongoing clinical trial, determine if you are eligible, and do your part to advance estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer research.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for HR-positive breast cancer:

• Genetic mutations
• Family history
• Age
• Obesity
• Alcohol use
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Early onset of menstrual cycle
• First full-term pregnancy later in life
• Late menopause

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ER+/HER2- breast cancer typically involves a series or combination of labs, tests, and imaging. Your healthcare provider can help determine which tests are right for you. Imaging tests may include a diagnostic mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI. A biopsy will confirm the diagnosis, presence of ER+/HER2- breast cancer cells, and other cancer-specific features.

Treatment

Treatment for ER+/HER2- breast cancer often includes a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and possibly chemotherapy. The key element of treatment in both early and progressive disease is endocrine therapy. Endocrine therapy works by blocking or reducing estrogen production.

The goal of early stage breast cancer treatment is to cure it and reduce the risk of the cancer coming back in the future. This treatment typically includes endocrine therapy. Commonly used endocrine therapies include tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and ovarian suppression. Chemotherapy may also be recommended in certain situations. Treatment may be continued for several years following surgery.

Outlook

Cancer outlook can vary based on factors like the stage of cancer at diagnosis, tumor size, grade, and the presence of other factors. ER+/HER2- breast cancer tends to have a better prognosis and more treatment options that are highly effective compared to some other types of breast cancer. In ER+/HER2- breast cancer, the risk of cancer recurrence exists for an extended period of time.

Further Research

Treatment options have evolved and advanced over the years, but the harsh reality is that breast cancer disparities still exist. Minority women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer in later stages, less likely to receive optimal treatment, and likely to experience worse outcomes when compared to their white counterparts.

If you or a loved one have early-stage ER+/HER2- breast cancer and have had surgery to treat it, click here to learn more about whether a clinical trial may be an option for you.

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References

• National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Female Breast Cancer Subtypes
• CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Systemic therapy for hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative early stage and metastatic breast cancer
• American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer HER2 Status
• National Library of Medicine. Racial disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment by hormone receptor and HER2 status

This article is sponsored by Lilly.

The post What is ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

When a specific ethnic or minority group is underrepresented in clinical trials, this can be detrimental to the advancement of treatment options and significantly researchers are able to gain regarding factors or considerations that are specific to that group. It is imperative that we increase representation and diversity in clinical research, allowing critical insight into the complex differences that may exist among these groups and promoting improved outcomes.

If data including minority patients is lacking in clinical trial databases, this can limit the potential benefits of personalized medicine for minority communities. Increasing minority participation in clinical trials can provide valuable insights into cultural and social factors that affect healthcare decision-making and adherence to treatment regimens.

Increasing Clinical Trial Participation

While clinical trials play a huge role, it is crucial that participants in these trials appropriately represent the population. So crucial, in fact, that the FDA issued guidance in 2019 urging pharmaceutical companies to increase clinical trial enrollment of underrepresented populations. Diversifying clinical trial participation helps researchers better understand the risks and benefits across different groups and reduce health care disparities.

Limited access is one of the major barriers to involvement of underrepresented groups in clinical trials. Eli Lilly and Company recognizes that diversity in clinical trials is a critical part of ensuring medications are effective for those that use them, and  they strive to achieve diverse representation in their clinical trials.

Click here to learn more about an ongoing breast cancer clinical trial, determine if you are eligible, and do your part to increase diversity in clinical trials and advance estrogen receptor positive (ER+) and human epidermal receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer research.

Disparities in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

Lack of clinical trial diversity is a barrier to the advancement of breast cancer treatment. Black women specifically are largely underrepresented in clinical trials. In fact, Black patients make up less than 4% of enrolled patients for specific cancer treatments. Some factors that may explain the low participation rate include access to care, finances, lack of awareness, and patient uncertainty. If you are willing to participate in a clinical trial, but have concerns, speak with your health care provider about your options and the risks and benefits of participation. Your provider can also answer any questions you have.

Choosing to participate in a breast cancer clinical trial requires making the important decision to invest in your health and the health of other patients with breast cancer. When you volunteer for a clinical trial, you become a vital contributor to the research process. Your participation may also help researchers work toward understanding and improving health disparities.

Making your decision can come with an overflow of emotions. Understanding the role clinical trials play in the advancement of healthcare may help make your decision easier. If you choose to participate in a clinical trial,

If you or a loved one have early-stage ER+/HER2- breast cancer and have had surgery to treat it, click here to learn more about whether a clinical trial may be an option for you.

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References

• S. Food & Drug Administration. Enhancing the Diversity of Clinical Trial Populations — Eligibility Criteria, Enrollment Practices, and Trial Designs Guidance for Industry
• ACS Journals. Addressing racial/ethnic disparities in cancer clinical trials: Everyone has a role to play
• American Association for Cancer Research. Disparities In Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment
• Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. Increasing Clinical Trial Participation of Black Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

The post What is the role of clinical trials in the advancement of breast cancer treatment? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

IPF is a disease that causes scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. It’s the most common type of pulmonary fibrosis, a group of serious lung diseases that affect the respiratory system. The word “idiopathic” means it has no known cause. Scarring causes stiffness in the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.

Lung damage from IPF is irreversible and progressive, meaning it gets worse over time. And the rate of progression can vary greatly from one person to another. In some cases, it can be slowed by certain medications. Occasionally, people with IPF will be recommended for lung transplant. But ultimately, IPF results in life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure.

The symptoms of IPF make this disease difficult to diagnose as they are nonspecific. Symptoms can range from being asymptomatic to having a chronic dry cough, shortness of breath, and/or fatigue. Because symptoms are similar to other illnesses, like the common cold, or may appear mild or absent early on, many patients are not diagnosed until the disease progresses to its later stages

According to the National Institutes of Health NIH, about 100,000 people in the U.S. have IPF. Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. More than 50,000 people die from IPF in the U.S. each year, more deaths than from breast cancer. It is more common in men than women, and usually affects people between the ages of 50 and 70.

While studies show that Blacks are less common than Whites to develop IPF, death from the disease occurs at a younger age in those of African descent, according to this study. Earlier onset and worsened outcomes in Blacks might prompt the need for earlier therapeutic intervention.

Although there is no known cause for IPF, studies show that there are certain factors that increase the risk of receiving an IPF diagnosis, according to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Current and former smokers are more likely to develop IPF than those who have never smoked.

A family history of pulmonary fibrosis is also a risk factor, as are certain genes. Some evidence suggests that certain viral infections, air pollution, and some exposures in the workplace may also be risk factors for IPF.

There are also conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux, heartburn, or GERD , sleep apnea, or pulmonary hypertension that are often present in people who are diagnosed with IPF.  The presence of risk factors and comorbidities provide clues that may be helpful to a physician who suspects IPF.

When a doctor or other healthcare provider suspects IPF, they will collect information about the patient’s medical and personal history, work and home environment, hobbies, and illness that may be present in the family. This can help a doctor identify exposures or other diseases that might have caused lung injury and scarring. The doctor will also often order pulmonary function tests, a chest x-ray, blood work, and a high-resolution CT scan.

However, misdiagnosis and delays in diagnosis of IPF are common. In one study, IPF was most often misdiagnosed as asthma 13.5% , pneumonia 13.0% , or bronchitis 12.3% . Delays in diagnosis have been reported to be from one year to as long as three years, with longer delays associated with an increased risk of death.

Some people live only months after a pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis. Others live several years. Many factors affect a patient’s prognosis. Even medical providers can’t predict some of these factors.

Overall, there is relatively little research into IPF, an under-recognized disease, according to the IPF Foundation. That’s why participation in clinical studies by people living with IPF is critical so that more can be learned about the causes of pulmonary fibrosis and find new treatments for IPF.

FibroGen, Inc’s ZEPHYRUS Phase 3 clinical study aims to slow progression of IPF via pamrevlumab, an antibody designed to bind to and block the activity of connective tissue growth factor CTGF .

There is growing evidence that CTGF plays a causal role in the progressive lung scarring that is characteristic of IPF.)

If you’ve been diagnosed with IPF, you can take steps to help your body stay in its best possible shape. Be proactive to avoid getting sick. Keep up-to-date with vaccines, as lung scarring makes it harder for the body to fight against infections. Stay active, make smart food choices, get plenty of rest—and don’t smoke.

The post What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

R&B singer Mary J. Blige talked about losing aunts and other family members to breast, cervical, and lung cancer. She has promoted breast cancer screening through the Black Women’s Health Imperative, especially among Black women disproportionately affected. Blige blamed the misconceptions about mammograms among Black women and “the practice of not wanting other people in our business” for the disparities in breast cancer outcomes between Blacks and whites.

She notes that had her aunts, godmother, and grandparents been informed about cancer, “they would have a different outcome today.” The singer paused multiple times to remain composed.  The first lady reached out to Blige as she sat back down. The two held hands for several minutes before Biden thanked Blige. The Biden family lost their son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015.

Jill Biden’s Mission

The first lady stated the administration’s cancer initiative would help encourage collaboration and research, invest in new treatments and therapies, and help people get the best care and support. She said it is about creating a ” future where we don’t have to be afraid of the word cancer anymore.” The American Cancer Society said the roundtables would bring doctors, scientists, and other professionals together with leading organizations to work on making progress against cancer.

Breast cancer is leading cancer for women and is the number one cause of death among Black and Latino women. More than 14,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths. Since becoming the first lady, Jill Biden has traveled the country to learn about advances in cancer research and encourage people to get routine screenings.

The post First Lady Jill Biden And Mary J. Blige Team Up For Cancer Prevention appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The official #Titcheck website offers additional educational resources for young women about breast cancer awareness. Resources include how to do a proper self-breast examination, what to look for, and how to initiate the conversation with your doctor. The Young Survival Coalition reported that 80% of young women diagnosed with breast cancer discover an abnormality while getting dressed.

The campaign helps young women detect early-onset breast cancer by searching for lumps or unusual breast changes.

Abnormalities include:

• a change in a breast’s size or nipple’s appearance
• development of a hard lump or knot near your underarm
• variance in your breast’s skin texture or tone
• nipple discharge or blood
• arrival of a rash or any breast redness or swelling.

YITTY commits to driving social change. “Our goal as a #TitCheck partner is to educate our community on the risks of breast cancer at a young age and help them understand how easy it is to check themselves and take control of their breast health,” says YITTY President Kristen Dykstra. YITTY will promote the #TITcheck campaign across all their platforms throughout October to drive early detection and improve survival rates.

The post YITTY Partners With Young Survival Coalition For A #TitCheck appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But we also have a lot of answers when it comes to reducing your cancer risk. We know definitively that smoking causes a host of cancers. Ditto for smokeless tobacco and environmental hazards like asbestos.

This week we got more news, although it may not seem all that new since a lot of it is advice you’ve heard dozens of times from your doctor—and your mom: Eat less and move more. Finish your vegetables. You’ve had enough alcohol, young lady.

It’s sage advice now borne out by a panel of scientists from the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research, an internationally recognized group that includes Anne McTiernan, M.D., a longtime Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center epidemiologist who studies the connection between lifestyle and cancer.

So this time you may want to listen, especially if cancer of the large intestine, i.e., the colon, or its lower counterpart, the rectum, is a concern. These cancers, often lumped together under the term colorectal, are the third most common cancers worldwide and the fourth most common cancer killer. Colorectal cancers kill 700,000 people a year globally and here in the U.S., colorectal cancer rates—and deaths from those cancers—are rising in adults under 50.

“It’s very concerning and needs to be studied,” said Dr. McTiernan of the disturbing trend. “Risk factors like obesity and lack of physical activity have caused an increase in diabetes in younger people. Maybe it’s similar in colorectal cancer.”

In their report, Dr. McTiernan and her colleagues didn’t address this bump in colorectal cancer rates but they did provide a clear a picture of how the foods we eat and the behaviors we indulge in can either increase or decrease our risk. The team analyzed nearly 100 large cohort studies from around the world involving more than 29 million adults—including nearly 250,000 folks who eventually developed colorectal cancer. Some of those people got cancer as a result of an inherited genetic mutation (think Lynch syndrome); others got it due to disease, like Crohn’s.

But many more developed colorectal cancer because of acquired genetic mutations. It’s these mutations, some of which are brought on by lifestyle choices, that we can actually do something about.

“The findings … are robust and clear,” said lead author Edward L. Giovannucci, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Diet and lifestyle have a major role in colorectal cancer.”

Interested in the major role you and your diet can play in fending off colorectal (and maybe even other cancers)? We went through the report with Dr. McTiernan, who’s written a memoir about her own tumultuous relationship with food, and highlighted five cancer-busting behaviors you can start working on today (check out the full report for additional tips).

1. Move your body. People who are physically active have a lower risk of colon cancer than those who are not. It doesn’t matter if you move furniture for a living; walk to work and back each day; or hike, bike, swing dance or work out at a gym—it’s all good. Physical activity helps you cut your risk for colon cancer by as much as 20 percent (the numbers weren’t as significant for rectal cancer).

What difference does exercise make? Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases, including cancer. Exercise helps you lose weight, which in turn reduces insulin resistance and inflammation, both of which are linked to the development of tumors in the colon. Exercise may help also specifically cut the risk for colon cancer by stimulating digestion and reducing what’s known as “colon transit time.” And that’s a good thing.

Dr. McTiernan said the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity five days a week is a good starting point. “But you’ll get more benefit if you do an hour a day,” she said. “You don’t have to run an hour a day. Just fold activity into the day wherever you can: take the stairs instead of elevators; go for a walk at lunch; do walking meetings with colleagues at work.”

2. Gobble those grains. People who eat whole grains every day have a lower risk of colorectal cancer than people who don’t. In fact, eating about three servings of whole grains (90 grams) per day reduces your risk of colorectal cancer by 17 percent, according to the report. And the more whole grains you eat, the more you cut your risk.

Why? Whole grains contain dietary fiber, which reduces colorectal cancer risk in a number of ways, including, yes, reducing colon “transit time.” They also contain a slew of nutrients and compounds with anti-carcinogenic properties, many of which are found in the bran and germ of the grain, i.e., the part that’s processed out.

Oatmeal, popcorn, corn, wild rice, buckwheat and quinoa are all whole grains. Ditto for barley, bulgur, kasha, millet, sorghum and farro. Want some easy swaps to get started? Go with brown rice instead of white and use whole wheat flour instead of refined white flour. And read those labels!

“Look for whole grains as the first ingredient on a package,” Dr. McTiernan said. “In general, real food that you make yourself is better than buying everything processed. But that doesn’t mean everybody has to make their own bread.”

3. Back away from the bacon (and other red/processed meat). Yes, we know. You love bacon. But it doesn’t love you back. In fact, the report found “consistent evidence” that for every 50 grams of processed, preserved or cured meat eaten per day—that’s about two slices of bacon, by the way—you’re bumping up your risk for colorectal cancer by 16 percent.

Eating red meat—i.e., beef, pork, lamb and goat—also ups your risk, particularly if you eat more than 500 grams in a week (that’s just over a pound). Why? Part of the issue is the chemicals that are created when you cook meat at high temperatures. Another part is that red meats contain high levels of “heme iron” (the type of iron found in blood and muscle), which promotes the growth of cancerous tumors.

Dr. McTiernan acknowledged science doesn’t have all the answers when it comes to figuring out the mechanisms that directly link colorectal cancer with red and processed meat. But “very high heat seems to release carcinogens,” she said. “It’s better to have a diet of more plants and lower fats and meats. And really limit your intake of highly processed meat, most of which are made of red meat.”

4. Load up on plants (and fiber). Many of us have been raised to think every meal should consist of a slab of meat, some kind of bread or starch and maybe a veggie. But Dr. McTiernan advised we move away from these Mad Men-style meals of steak, baked potato and miniscule salad and, instead, cancer-proof our plates.

“Meat should take up less than one-quarter of the plate,” she said. “Vegetables should be half the plate and then some kind of whole grain on the other one quarter.” Plants, not meat, should dominate our meals, said Dr. McTiernan. This serves us in a few different ways. If we eat mainly vegetables, we’re taking in fewer calories so we’re better able to control our weight. And plants—and their dietary fiber—fend off cancer by providing us with a slew of anti-cancer agents, by reducing intestinal transit time and by increasing fecal bulk.

Non-starchy vegetables are the best sources of fiber (think broccoli, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, cabbage and artichokes). Peas, lentils, beans and nuts also pack quite the fiber punch as do fruits like berries, apples and pears, especially if you eat the skin. Fruits are also a rich source of vitamin C, another nutrient that may protect against developing colorectal cancer.

“Overall, a lot of fiber is helpful,” Dr. McTiernan said. “We don’t know if it’s because it gets the food out of the body faster or if it’s something about the fiber itself—maybe it helps with absorption of vitamins. It’s just better to have a diet of more plants. You don’t have to be a vegetarian; just have an overall pattern of plant-based meals.”

5. Limit your booze. Yes, we love a glass of wine after a long day. But when it comes to alcohol and cancer, less is definitely more. The new research points to a number of probable associations involving everything from toxic metabolites to oxidative stress to cellular penetration of carcinogens. But after sifting and sorting hundreds of studies, the bottom line is as clear as a shot of potato vodka: Consumption of alcohol is a “convincing cause” of colorectal cancer, especially if you drink more than 30 grams—or two drinks—a day.

Dr. McTiernan, who recently co-authored a paper on alcohol’s impact on breast cancer risk (yes, it’s a problem there, too), was sympathetic but straightforward about this finding.
“Really limit your use of alcohol,” she said.

From Fred Hutch News

The post 5 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

• Women with a family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer may have a genetic difference called BRCA1 or BRCA2 (commonly called BRCA). This genetic mutation can increase the chances you will develop ovarian cancer. Other inherited cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome, also could increase ovarian cancer risk
• Never being pregnant. Don’t fret, however, if children aren’t part of your reality. “Anything that stops ovulation for a time, like birth control pills, pregnancy or breastfeeding, can lower the average woman’s ovarian cancer risk,” Dr. Lu said.
• Researchers also suspect regular ovulation increases ovarian cancer risk because it damages the lining of the ovaries, meaning ovary cells need to be repaired frequently. This can increase the chance for cancer-causing changes

Ovarian cancer symptoms are often vague, can mimic other health problems and vary from woman to woman. Ovarian cancer symptoms include:

• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• Nausea, diarrhea, constipation or frequent urination
• Pain during sex
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Unexplained weight change

“Most women know what feels normal to them. If any of these symptoms last more than two weeks, talk to your doctor,” Dr. Lu said. “In most cases, it’s probably not ovarian cancer, but your doctor should at least consider the possibility.”
A blood test called the CA-125 and a transvaginal ultrasound can help diagnose ovarian cancer.
“Identifying ovarian cancer symptoms isn’t easy,” Dr. Lu said. “But finding it earlier is one of the best ways to beat it.”

The post Reduce Your Ovarian Cancer Risk appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A tenant of the Affordable Care Act is preventive care. That includes health screenings. Getting checked early can help you stop diseases like cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis in the beginning stages, when they’re easier to treat. In fact, screening tests can spot illnesses even before symptoms develop. Some tests (Pap test or breast exam) should be a routine part of every woman’s health care. Other tests might be necessary based on your age, family history, your own health history and other risk factors. So talk to your physician about being screened.
Breast Cancer
The earlier you find breast cancer, the better your chance of a cure. Small breast cancers are less likely to spread to lymph nodes and vital organs like the lungs and brain. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, your health-care provider should perform a breast exam as part of your regular check-up every one to three years. Mammograms are low-dose X-rays that can often find a lump before you ever feel it, though normal results don’t completely rule out cancer. While you’re in your 40s, you should have an annual mammogram. After age 50, switch to every other year. Your doctor may recommend more frequent screenings if you’re at higher risk.
Cervical Cancer
With regular Pap smears, cervical cancer is easy to prevent. Pap smears find abnormal cells on the cervix, which can be removed before they ever turn into cancer. The main cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), a type of STD. During a Pap smear, your doctor scrapes some cells off your cervix and sends them to a lab for analysis. You should get your first Pap smear by age 21 (earlier if you’re already sexually active), and every two years after that. If you’re 30 or older, you can get HPV tests, too, and wait a little longer between Pap smears.
Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, can protect women younger than 26 from several strains of HPV. The vaccines don’t protect against all the cancer-causing strains of HPV (and not all cervical cancers are caused by HPV), so it’s still important to have routine Pap smears.
Osteoporosis
After menopause, women start to lose bone mass. (Note: Men get osteoporosis, too.) The first symptom is often a painful bone break after even a minor fall. In Americans age 50 and older, the disease contributes to about half the fractures in women. Though the common belief—even among some in the medical community—is that osteoporosis is a disease of white and Asian women, African Americans also contract this. A special type of X-ray called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can measure bone strength and find osteoporosis before breaks happen. It can also help predict the risk of future breaks. This screening is recommended for all women age 65 and older.
Skin Cancer
There are several kinds of skin cancer, and early treatment can be effective for them all. The most dangerous is melanoma. Some people have an inherited risk for this type of cancer, which may increase with overexposure to the sun. Basal cell and squamous cell are common non-melanoma skin cancers. Watch for changes in your skin, especially to moles and freckles. Pay attention to changes in their shape, color and size. And have your skin checked by a dermatologist or other health professional during your regular physicals.
High Blood Pressure
As you get older, your risk of high blood pressure increases, especially if you are overweight. High blood pressure can cause life-threatening heart attacks or strokes without any warning. Blood pressure readings include two numbers. The first (systolic) is the pressure of your blood when your heart beats. The second (diastolic) is the pressure between beats. Normal adult blood pressure is below 120/80. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is 140/90 or above. Ask your doctor how often you should have your blood pressure checked.
Cholesterol
High cholesterol can cause plaque to clog your arteries. Plaque can build up for many years without symptoms, eventually causing a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking can all cause plaque to build up, too. To get your cholesterol checked, you’ll need to fast for 12 hours. Then you’ll take a blood test that measures total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fat). If you’re 20 or older, you should get this test at least every five years.
Type 2 Diabetes
One-third of Americans with diabetes don’t know they have it. Diabetes can cause heart or kidney disease, stroke, blindness from damage to the blood vessels of the retina and other serious problems. You can control diabetes with diet, exercise, weight loss, and medication, especially when you find it early. You’ll probably have to fast for eight hours or so before having your blood tested for diabetes. A blood sugar level of 100 to 125 may show prediabetes; 126 or higher may mean diabetes. Other tests include the A1C test and the oral glucose tolerance test. If you’re healthy and have a normal diabetes risk, you should be screened every three years starting at age 45. Talk to your doctor about getting tested earlier if you have a higher risk, like a family history of the disease.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. It’s spread through sharing blood or body fluids with an infected person, such as through unprotected sex or dirty needles. Pregnant women with HIV can pass the infection to their babies unless they take medication to prevent this. There is still no cure or vaccine, but early treatment with anti-HIV medications can help the immune system fight the virus. HIV can be symptom-free for many years. The ELISA or EIA (blood) test looks for antibodies to HIV. If you get a positive result, you’ll need a second test to confirm the results. Still, if you’ve been infected recently, you can test negative even if you’re infected, so you may need to repeat the test. Everyone should get tested at least once between ages 13 and 64, more often if you’re not in a monogamous relationship or have been engaging in risky behaviors.
Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer. Most colon cancers come from polyps that grow on the inner lining of the large intestine. The polyps may or may not be cancerous. If they are, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body. Removing polyps early, before they become cancerous, can prevent it completely. A colonoscopy is a common screening test for colorectal cancer. While you’re mildly sedated, a doctor inserts a small flexible tube equipped with a camera into your colon. If she finds a polyp, she can often remove it right during the test. Another type of test is a flexible sigmoidoscopy, which looks into the lower part of the colon. If you’re at average risk, screening usually starts at age 50.
Proper screening won’t always prevent a disease, but it can often find a disease early enough to give you the best chance of overcoming it.

The post Get Screened! Tests Every Woman Needs appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Black Health Matters, the leading health and wellness communications platform, will host its 4^th Black Health Matters Summit virtually on July 18^th from 8:30am to 6:00pm.   This year, Black Health Matters will unveil its new slogan at the 4^th Black Health Matters Summit, being held virtually: “I Vote Because #BlackHealthMatters”. As President and founder, Roslyn Young-Daniels of Black Health Matters has stated,  “Now more than ever we live in a state of urgency that we want used to advance health equity.  Voting provides that opportunity.” When We All Vote will provide easy on-line access to voter registration for all participants in the virtual Summit who have yet to register to vote.

The Black Health Matters Summit is the biggest and most significant health and wellness event of the summer. It is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit BlackHealthMattersSummit.vfairs.com.

Black Health Matters Summit:

The Summit will focus on patient-centric issues convened to educate patients, caregivers, health enthusiasts, advocacy groups, and media outlets. We feature a world-class faculty, passionate about connecting with patients about advances in care, especially in the age of COVID-19:

• 20 BEST IN CLASS HEALTH CARE EXPERTS AND THOUGHT LEADERS
• LIVE CHAT Q&A WITH LEADING DOCTORS & ADVOCATES

Topics include: Affording Medications, Breast Cancer, Clinical Trials/Research Study Participation, Kidney Disease (FSGS); HIV/AIDS, Kidney Disease (FSGS), Fibroids/Endometriosis/Reproductive Health, Hereditary ATTTR amyloidosis, Heart Disease, Lung Cancer, Mental Health, Sickle Cell and Prostate Cancer.

Partners include: Akcea, Alnylam, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Gilead, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Myovant, Retrophin, Pfizer and PhRMA.  Community partners include: Empire State Medical Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

We want attendees to become intentional about their health by attending the biggest forum on health and wellness created for African American families.   They have the opportunity to dialogue with exceptional physicians, scientists, advocates and peers focused on health equity.  It’s our time to reaffirm that #BlackHealthMatters.

About Black Health Matters

Black Health Matters is a trusted health content and experiential woman-owned firm that offers digital, social and screening programs that reach consumers, patients and medical practitioners.  The platform, launched in 2012 prior to the Black Lives Matters movement to support the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.  The mission is to help newly insured and the medically underserved improve their health literacy through self-reflective and evidence-based health content.

Black Health Matters (BHM) is a leading provider of digital health and wellness solutions for African American consumers and patients.   BHM delivers a highly personalized content experience drawing from touch-points of the African American experience that empower and drive compliance. In 2020 Black Health Matters will host more than 20 virtual forums on African American health.  The organization is currently active with a men’s health education initiative launched in partnership with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

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Previously, we mentioned how vaginal dryness could cause any woman affected pain. Loss of lubrication and painful sex increases. Thinning of the skin around the vagina makes it more easily damaged. Meaning even the gentlest friction can cause pain and discomfort. And painful intercourse will cause a trickle effect, eventually causing a woman to lose sexual desire. Vaginal dryness doesn’t only cause pain during sex; it can make it uncomfortable to sit, stand, exercise, etc. It truly affects everyday life.

Fortunately, if you experience this issue, several supplements can prevent the condition and enhance natural lubrication. We have listed five vitamins and supplements that can assist in your journey through menopause.

5 Vitamins That Aid Vaginal Dryness

1. Vitamin A: This vitamin is vital in developing mucous membranes, which include the lining of the vagina.
2. Vitamin B: Hormonal and dietary factors alter vaginal secretions. Proper immune function is essential for vaginal health, and the vitamin B complex – a supplement that includes all eight types of vitamin B – boosts immune function.
3. Beta-Carotene: Beta-carotene is a provitamin, which means your body uses it to make another vitamin, and in this case, vitamin A. Beta-carotene is found in the following foods: carrots, dark-green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, broccoli, and cantaloupe. It is not toxic in high doses; too much can cause the skin to have a yellow-orange hue, among other side effects.
4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential fatty acids help improve the architecture of the vaginal mucosa. Research revealed omega-3 to significantly reduce vaginal dryness for six months among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors with vaginal atrophy (atrophic vaginitis), which is a thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls.
5. Vitamin E: Vitamin E is another vitamin that help promotes vaginal lubrication. You receive Vitamin E through various foods, including plant-based oils, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables.

Hopefully, these several vitamins can bring you relief. Always consult a medical professional before taking supplements or medications.

The post 5 Vitamins That Aid Against Vaginal Dryness During Menopause appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Why does breast cancer treatment affect my memory and ability to focus?

Doctors aren’t exactly sure why chemotherapy and other cancer treatments can make it harder to remember things or think clearly. But it’s possible that your cancer treatment is only part of the reason for any memory or thinking problems you’re having. Feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression related to having breast cancer can also affect your memory and your ability to focus.

The result is that you may have trouble doing things like multitasking, learning new information, or remembering names and dates.

Find support

Remember that you’re not alone! Many people living with breast cancer have problems focusing and remembering things—and it may help you to talk with people who are experiencing the same things as you. Ask your doctor to connect you to support groups in your area, or check out the American Cancer Society’s programs for people with cancer.

How can I improve my memory and ability to focus?

For most people with breast cancer, problems thinking clearly go away over time. But you can take these steps to help improve your memory and ability to focus now:

• Get physical activity. Getting active is good for your brain. It can help you feel less stressed and tired — and more alert. Even small amounts of physical activity can make a difference. Consider walking or yoga, and keep in mind that things like gardening and doing chores around the house count as physical activity, too.
• Eat healthy. Try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which have nutrients that help keep your brain healthy. If you’re worried that you’re not eating enough healthy foods, ask your doctor about taking vitamins.
• Try to get enough sleep. Do your best to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. If you’ve been having trouble falling asleep, you may want to try a calming bedtime routine. For example, take a bath, listen to soft music, and read a book. It’s also a good idea to avoid foods and drinks with caffeine or sugar before bedtime.
• Manage your stress. When you’re less stressed, you may find it easier to think clearly. Try meditating at home, or ask your doctor about mindfulness-based therapy. Taking time to do activities you enjoy—like watching movies or playing games—can help lower your stress levels, too.

Are there treatments for memory and thinking problems?

There’s no medicine approved to treat memory and thinking problems related to breast cancer, but sometimes doctors prescribe medicines that are meant to treat other conditions. It’s not clear how well these medicines work for people with breast cancer.

Your doctor may also recommend cognitive rehabilitation. This type of treatment may involve teaching you how the brain works, having you do tasks on a computer that “train” your brain, and giving you methods to stay organized.

Stay organized to manage memory problems

Try taking these steps to help make sure you don’t have to rely on your memory:

• Use a planner to keep track of your daily schedule—including appointments and other important dates
• Create a to-do list or set up smartphone reminders about tasks you need to get done
• Put items that are easy to lose—like car keys—in the same place every time you finish using them

Talk with your doctor if you need more help managing memory or thinking problems—especially if they’re causing trouble at work or in your daily life. Your doctor can help make sure you get the help you need.

The post How to Manage Brain Fog After Breast Cancer Treatments appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Women with periodontal disease have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, especially if they’re smokers or recently quit smoking, a recent study shows.

“We have seen associations between periodontal disease and chronic diseases, including stroke and heart attacks,” said Jo Freudenheim, professor and interim chair of the epidemiology and environmental health department at the University at Buffalo. “Our hypothesis was that it would also be associated with breast cancer. We thought that periodontal bacteria—either the bacteria themselves or the inflammation that’s part of having periodontal disease—has an effect on other parts of the body, including breast tissue. We know there are bacteria in breast tissue and we know there’s bacteria in mother’s milk. Women who had periodontal disease had a small increase in the risk of breast cancer overall.”

The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, analyzed self-reported data from more than 73,000 postmenopausal participants in the Women’s Health Initiative, a federally funded long-term study that started in 1991. The women were followed to determine who was diagnosed with breast cancer. Among women who were smokers or who had quit smoking in the previous 20 years, those with periodontal disease had a 36 percent higher breast cancer risk.

“Up to this point, we’ve known very little about the association between poor oral health and breast cancer, especially among smokers, who are more likely to have periodontal disease,” said study co-author Robert Genco, a professor of oral biology. “What we’re seeing is an association between periodontal disease and breast cancer in a large and well-designed study. Since periodontal disease affects half or more women in this age range, the increase in risk, although small, may be important on a population base.”

Previously, three small studies examined the possible link between periodontal disease and breast cancer, and all three showed a non-statistically significant increase in risk. Because this study was much larger, it was possible to examine the association more closely and look at how smoking impacted the relationship.

“There’s been an explosion of information recently that makes it clear that many different parts of the body that were thought to be sterile contain bacteria and other microbes,” Freudenheim said. “These bacteria may influence diseases that were previously thought to have no infectious component.”

Researchers say there are multiple possible causes for the connection:

• Bacteria from the oral cavity can get into the bloodstream after tooth brushing, flossing and chewing. Though these bacteria are cleared quickly, there is cumulative exposure to tissues. It could be that these microbes affect breast cancer.
• Inflammation in one part of the body may have an impact on other chronic diseases.
• Other factors, which increase both the risk of periodontal disease and breast cancer, may be present.

“This is a new area, so we have to be careful in how we interpret our findings. We can’t say, ‘If you treat periodontal disease it will reduce cancer,’” Freudenheim said. “We are now learning a huge amount about the microbiome, the bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that share our world. We are now beginning to understand how much the interaction of the microbiome affects our health both in terms of acute infections and chronic diseases.”

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Metastatic means the cancer has spread beyond the breast and immediate lymph nodes to other organs or tissues in the body, most often the bones, brain, lungs or liver. It’s considered stage 4 breast cancer, which means the cancer has progressed to its most advanced stage.

But even though it’s moved to other organs, it still behaves like breast cancer and is treated with breast cancer therapies.

More than 154,000 U.S. women are estimated to have metastatic breast cancer, according to the Susan G. Komen organization. Men can have metastatic breast cancer too, but it’s rare.

To help patients fill in information gaps, N. Lynn Henry, M.D., Ph.D., the breast oncology disease lead for the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, explains the nuances of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

What are the differences between metastatic breast cancer, stage 4 breast cancer and advanced cancer?

“Most of us use the names stage 4 and metastatic interchangeably,” Henry says. “Advanced is a little more complicated. Sometimes you will see the word ‘advanced’ used to describe metastatic cancer. But sometimes you will see the term ‘locally advanced.’ That means there’s a lot of cancer in the surrounding lymph nodes, but it doesn’t necessarily mean we see cancer that has spread outside of the area. We tend to stay away from the word ‘advanced’ because there can be confusion.”

If any doctor uses the term “advanced,” ask for clarification, Henry adds.

When does metastatic breast cancer appear?

Every patient is different. In most cases, it arises months or years after a person has completed treatment for the initial breast cancer diagnosis, Henry says.

But some patients will learn they have metastatic breast cancer when first diagnosed, a term known as de novo metastatic breast cancer, Henry says. Only 6 percent of women and 8 percent of men receive a de novo metastatic diagnosis, according to Komen.

What are the symptoms?

Metastatic disease symptoms are tricky because they vary depending on where the cancer cells have spread, Henry says. Some symptoms might be caused by side effects of medication or they might be an indication of depression. It’s important to explore the cause.

“I always encourage a patient with a history of breast cancer to call us if she has a new symptom, especially if it sticks around longer than expected,” she says.

These are some common symptoms of metastatic breast cancer by site:

Symptoms of bone metastases:

• Severe, progressive pain
• Back, bone or joint pain
• Swelling
• Bones that fracture easily

Symptoms of brain metastases:

• Worsening headache or pressure to the head
• Vision problems (blurry, double vision or loss of vision)
• Seizures
• Loss of balance
• Vomiting or nausea
• Behavioral changes, confusion or personality changes

Symptoms of liver metastases:

• Jaundice
• Itchy skin or rash
• Abdominal pain, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting

Symptoms of lung metastases:

• Chronic cough
• Inability to draw a full breath
• Chest pain

What are the treatments?

Patients with metastatic disease are primarily treated with systemic therapies—drugs that work throughout the body. These include chemotherapy, targeted drugs and hormonal therapy. Surgery or radiation may be used to slow the growth or reduce the size of tumors.

Identifying optimal treatment depends on the specific type of breast cancer, specifically the hormone receptor status and the HER2 status of the cancer.

“There are many different types of breast cancer. Oncologists will conduct extensive testing of tumors, with sequencing, and look at specific findings to understand what the cancer might respond to best,” Henry explains.

For example, patients with hormone receptor positive cancers are typically first treated with anti-hormone treatments such as an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant, often in conjunction with other targeted drugs. Those with HER2-positive cancer will receive Herceptin or other treatments directed against HER2 as part of treatment. In addition, women with a BRCA gene mutation may receive a PARP inhibitor as part of their treatment.

“More and more treatments are being developed and approved, so we have many more options for treatment now than we did just five to 10 years ago,” Henry says.

Do men get metastatic breast cancer?

“Yes. But only about 1 percent  to 2 percent of all breast cancers occur in men, so the disease is not very common in men overall. But when it does occur in men, it can spread and become metastatic,” Henry says.

What is the prognosis?

While there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer, there are treatments that slow the cancer, extending the patient’s life while also improving the quality of life, Henry says. Many patients now live 10 years or more after a metastatic diagnosis.

“We are seeing improvements in how long people are living. The new types of medicines that are being approved treat the cancer and help with other symptoms. People are not only living longer, but they are also feeling better longer for the most part, which is very encouraging.”

How do clinical trials fit into the equation?

“I think clinical trials in general are very important, because almost every drug we have in practice right now, we learned about through a clinical trial,” Henry says.

The Rogel Cancer Center always tries to have clinical trials available for all patients, no matter the stage.

“Ask your oncologist about the opportunity to participate in clinical trials, even if it hasn’t been mentioned to you,” Henry says. “It’s one way to get access to new exciting drugs, which may be beneficial.”

What if a patient sees the term “metastatic” on an online pathology report before seeing the oncologist? Does that mean they have stage 4?

“Because we have electronic medical records now, and everyone has fairly early access to documents like pathology reports, it can cause a lot of anxiety and be very confusing to a patient,” Henry says. “Sometimes a pathology report may say ‘metastatic to lymph node.’ But that may not mean it is stage 4.” It may simply mean the cancer has spread to an adjacent lymph node. Henry emphasizes that patients should talk to their doctor to understand their diagnosis.

What hope do you give patients with metastatic breast cancer?

“We have seen quite a number of medications approved in the last few years. And we know that there are more medications being reviewed by the FDA for consideration of approval in the next few years,” Henry says. “It’s an exciting time in oncology to have all these new treatments being developed.

“I always stress to patients that I want to do everything I can to help them live as long as they can, while still maintaining quality of life, allowing them to do the things they want to do. We do our best to make sure that we adjust treatment schedules to allow people to attend graduations or family reunions, or a trip they want to be able to take,” explains Henry.

“We want to help them look forward.”

From Michigan Health

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1. Orange-peel skin. This is called “peau d’orange” by doctors, and it literally means “the skin of an orange.” It can be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, where the breast swells and the skin takes on almost a pitted appearance, and it happens when breast cancer cells invade the skin on your breast.
2. Dimpling of skin. Any new dimpling on your breast is cause for concern. What does this look like? Check for an indentation of the skin, similar in size and shape to a dimple on your cheek. This could signal a tumor pulling from underneath your skin.
3. Inverted nipple. After a lump, nipple abnormalities are the second most common presenting symptom of breast cancer. Be wary of an inverted nipple (one that has always pointed outward and suddenly changes to point inward) or nipples that suddenly change direction.
4. Large lump in your armpit. A lump under the armpit can represent a swelling in your lymph node, the glands that help your body fight infection. You may have had swollen lymph nodes before, but they often grow larger when they swell in response to cancer.
5. Swelling or redness. Often mistaken for a breast infection, swelling or redness can also be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, especially if that redness covers more than a third of the breast and feels warm along with the swelling.
6. Nipple discharge. Discharge from one of your nipples, especially if it’s bloody, could be an early symptom of breast cancer. Don’t panic, though. Nipple discharge is commonly caused by a non-cancerous lump in the milk duct. Have any discharge checked by your doctor to be sure.
7. Itchy nipples. Itchiness, flaking or crusting on or near your nipple can be a sign of Paget’s disease, a rare form of breast cancer often mistaken for skin irritation. The National Cancer Institute says most women with Paget’s disease often have at least one tumor in the affected breast.

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• Triple negative breast cancer means that when the tumor is tested it comes back negative for the following receptors: estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu positive/negative gene. If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, make sure you know the results of your receptor test.

• These cancers grow faster than other breast cancers and can spread to other organs in the body such as the liver, lungs and the brain. Most women diagnosed with this form of cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease.

• Triple negative breast cancer reoccurs more frequently than other forms of breast cancer. And when it comes back, it comes back with a vengeance and responds less to treatment.

• But not all is lost. People can survive this disease with access to quality health care. Make sure you work with your doctor to find the right treatment at the right time that will work for you.

For more information tune in to Immunomedics’ FB Live Stream from ASCO on June 2, 2018 at 4:00pm cst. Facebook.com/TNBCFoundation

Edith Peterson Mitchell, MD, FACP, FCPP, is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and is Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine and Medical Oncology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and Associate Director for Diversity Programs and Director of the Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities for the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University.

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Have a close friend or family member who has been diagnosed with breast cancer? Here’s how you can help her on the road to recovery.

Educate yourself. Yes, you are going to feel a way about your loved one/friend being diagnosed, but you might also say things that you don’t even think are hurtful or offensive because you are misinformed about breast cancer. So make sure to educate yourself first before you step in and try to provide support and comfort.

Don’t compare. Everyone’s breast cancer experience is different, especially given the range of stages, aggressiveness of the cancer, family history and even access to treatment. So try not to compare this person’s diagnosis with someone in your past. It could more harm than good.

Show affection. A breast cancer diagnosis can make women feel very alone and depressed, so it’s amazing how showing them affection can make them feel appreciated and loved. Remember, a hug can really go a long way.

Send cards and notes. You may not be able to be there physically for your loved on as much as you would like, but sending cards and notes via email, can be really inspirational and empowering for women with breast cancer. The prettier the card, the better!

Don’t tell them how you feel. The last thing someone with breast cancer needs is someone telling them how to feel, especially those who haven’t gone through what they are going through. Your loved one is going to be going through a range of emotions, from fear to rage to hopelessness. And while it may make you feel uncomfortable you just have to listen and let them grieve and process the way they need without placing your opinions and expectations on them.

Call. Having a major illness can be isolating, so be sure to reach out often. Don’t know what to say? It’s OK; just let her know you love her and you’re thinking of her.

Listen. Let her feel her feelings. You probably feel powerless to help, but remember that your role isn’t to cure her cancer—it’s tobe there for her. So whether she’s hopeful, depressed, or somewhere in between, listen to whatever she wants to talk about without going into problem solving mode.

Defer. As much as you want her to heal and thrive, she wants it even more. So as long as she has great information, is following her treatment plan, and has considered all the options, know that the big decisions are hers to make, and yours to support. So accept and respect them.

Ask. Don’t just say you’re there if she needs you—she might have a hard time admitting that she needs help, or might feel bad about taking up your time. Instead, ask if you can do very specific things, such as drive her to and from treatment, keep her kids for the weekend, sit with her during treatment, manage her insurance paperwork, attend appointments and take notes, take her dog for a walk every night after dinner, be the keeper of her medical calendar or clean her place every Saturday morning.

Enlist. If you are her primary caregiver, you will need help to manage aspects of her life and keep up with your own, too. Don’t be afraid to put her friends and family to work, whether that means creating a meal schedule where they can drop off dinner and lunch, or sending around a driver signup sheet so there is always someone available to accompany her to treatment.

Connect. As much as you want to help, she can gain a lot from meeting with people who have been where she is and made it through. With her permission, sign her up for a program that will pair her with a mentor who has already survived breast cancer. MyBCTeam.com is a social network that connects women who are currently living with breast cancer.

The post Support a Loved One With Breast Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

TGIN’s Finance and HR Manager, Aris Singleton, confirmed her aunt’s passing on the official Instagram page. Aris wore the brand’s signature pink to honor her late aunt. She explained how she plans to continue Donaldson’s legacy.

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our founder and CEO Chris-Tia Donaldson on the evening of Saturday, November 13. TGIN and the TGIN foundation has lost a leader and a visionary and the world has lost a selfless and beautiful human being. Chris-Tia lived a life of service and was a force to be reckoned with inside and outside of the beauty community. Through her passion and purpose she redefined beauty and created a community of women empowerment teaching us the importance of advocating for ourselves especially our health,” said Singleton. “The entire TGIN family mourns the tremendous loss. No words can adequately express that sadness or the love we have for her.

The post TGIN Founder Chris-Tia Donaldson Passes Away from Breast Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Male breast cancer is rare, but important. It accounts for less than 2% of all cancers in men and approximately 2% of all breast cancers in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2021 about 2,650 men will be diagnosed and about 530 men will die from breast cancer.

Like Black women, Black men face similar health disparities when it comes to breast cancer. Not only do Black men have a 52% higher rate of contracting the disease than white men, they’re also 76% more likely to die—even with similar treatment.

Unfortunately, reasons for the elevated risk of breast cancer in Black men are largely unknown but may involve a multitude of risk factors including genetic and nongenetic factors. The study authors concluded more research is needed to determine these factors.

While breast cancer may be rare for men, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. If you experience any of the following changes, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider right away:

• A lump or swelling, which is often (but not always) painless
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness, dimpling, puckering, or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge

This article is sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company.

The post Breast Cancer Deadlier for Black Men appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The study, of nearly 174,000 Dutch breast cancer patients between 1999 and 2012, found overall survival rates improved, including among women with more advanced cancer. But survival odds were best when women’s tumors were caught early.

“The general prospects for a woman diagnosed with breast cancer in the Western world are very good,” said lead researcher Madeleine Tilanus-Linthorst, M.D., of Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands.

Researchers found an 88 percent five-year survival rate among women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2006 and 2012. That figure is up from 83 percent among women diagnosed with the cancer between 1999 and 2005. The increased survival rate extended to women with more advanced cancer. Among those with larger tumors—more than 2 inches across—the research revealed the five-year survival rate rose 10 percentage points, from 63 percent to 73 percent.

But the smaller a woman’s tumor at diagnosis, the better the outcome, the study found. Of women diagnosed in more recent years, nearly all survived at least five years if their tumor was caught when it was less than three-quarters of an inch across.

In fact, their five-year survival rates were comparable to those of an average woman their age who’d never been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Catching the cancer early is still highly important,” Dr. Tilanus-Linthorst said.

Of the women diagnosed between 2006 and 2012, she noted, 65 percent had their tumors caught when they were still less than three-quarters of inch in size, suggesting size does matter.

In this study, women diagnosed with breast cancer in more recent years were more likely to receive the latest therapies as well as “breast conserving” surgery—where only the tumor and some surrounding tissue are removed. But even with these new treatments and more conservative surgery, the study concluded that tumor size at diagnosis is a significant factor in a woman’s outcome.

This is key because it points out the benefits of mammograms. Currently, the American Cancer Society recommends that women between the ages of 45 to 54 get mammograms every year and they suggest women aged 40 to 44 consider the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.

But starting the screening process earlier is particularly important for black women as they are more likely to develop aggressive, hard-to-treat breast cancers at younger ages than their white counterparts. In fact, even though the overall rates of breast cancer in black and white women are about the same, black women are more likely to die from breast cancer.

Ultimately, the biggest takeaway from the study is that catching breast cancer early helps saves lives.

This article is sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company.

The post Early Detection Best for Breast Cancer Survival appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“It had been assumed lately that we could explain the differences in outcome by access to care,” said lead author Steven Narod, M.D., professor of public health at the University of Toronto. This assumption is likely because in earlier studies, experts have found some ethnic groups have better access to care.

But that’s only part of the story. Dr. Narod and his team discovered racially based biological differences, such as the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes or having an aggressive type of breast cancer known as triple-negative, are responsible for much of the disparity.

“Ethnicity is just as likely to predict who will live and who will die from early breast cancer as other factors, like the cancer’s appearance and treatment,” he said.

In this study, nearly 374,000 women who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2004 and 2011 were followed for about three years. Researchers divided the women into eight racial or ethnic groups and looked at the types of tumors, how aggressive the tumors were and whether they had spread.

The results: Japanese women were more likely to be diagnosed at stage 1 (when the tumor is up to 2 cm and no lymph nodes are involved) than white women, with 56 percent of Japanese women finding out they had cancer early, compared to 51 percent of white women.

But black women and South Asian (Asian Indian, Pakistani) women lagged far behind, with only 37 percent and 40 percent respectively receiving an early diagnosis.

Even worse: When researchers calculated the seven-year death risk, black women topped the list, with a 6 percent death rate. Black women were also nearly twice as likely as white women to die following the diagnosis of small tumors, according to the study.

In an editorial that accompanied the study, Bobby Daly, M.D., a hematology-oncology fellow at the University of Chicago Medical Center, pointed out that the new research “makes significant strides in explaining the well-known racial disparities in breast cancer. It [also] makes strides in showing how the difference in survival may reflect intrinsic differences in the biology of the tumor.”

None of the researchers are suggesting that access to care isn’t a factor in breast cancer survival. There still need to be improvements on that front, Dr. Daly noted, especially when it comes to treating women according to established guidelines and avoiding treatment delays.

Women also need to be proactive. Regardless of their race or ethnicity, they should know their family health history, be aware of other risk factors they may have and stay on top of appropriate screenings and mammograms.

Finally, minority women must be included in larger numbers in future research, said the authors of the editorial.

This article is sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company.

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Recently, the American Cancer Society updated their breast cancer screening guidelines for women at average risk for the disease. Women at average risk for the disease include those without a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer.

The updated guidelines are:

Women between 40 and 44 can begin screening with a mammogram every year.

Women between 45 and 54 should get mammograms every year.

Women 55 and older can reduce mammogram frequency to every other year, or continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

Breast cancer continues to be the most common cancer diagnosed among women, and it remains the second leading cause of cancer death. Thankfully, breast cancer related deaths have declined over the last 30 years due to technology and research. However, there is an alarming mortality gap between Black and white women.

While rates of breast cancer are about the same for Black and white women, Black women are 20% to 40% more likely to die from breast cancer. Black women are also more likely to be diagnosed later, with more advanced disease, and with the more aggressive breast cancer.

With all of this in mind, it begs the question—should Black women start getting mammograms earlier? According to a recent study published by the American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging, yes they should.

Since early detection is critical to survival, the study’s experts recommend that Black women start breast cancer screening no later than age 30 “so that those at higher risk can be identified and can benefit from supplemental screening.”

Ultimately, women of all races and ethnicities should be proactive about their breast health. If you’re unsure when to start breast screening, talk to your health care provider about your family health history and risk factors to help them determine your best screening plan.

This article is sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company.

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The next night, he saw another red dot on his T-shirt. It was in the same area, near his right nipple. Although he laughs about being the kind of guy who wants an MRI to make sure a headache is only a headache, he continued to downplay it.

Days later, Knowles saw it again. He mentioned it to his wife. Come to think of it, she said, she’d seen red spots on their bedsheets in recent days.

Now Knowles was curious enough to squeeze his right nipple. Out came blood, beginning a series of events with potentially life-altering ramifications for himself and his family, including his daughters Beyoncé and Solange.

Knowles turned out to be one of the rare men with breast cancer. Further testing uncovered that he has a mutation of one of the so-called “breast cancer genes,” specifically BRCA2.

That discovery may explain why he developed cancer in his right breast, and it means he’s at a higher risk of developing other forms of cancer. He’s already had a mastectomy of his right breast and is planning one for the left side to be safe.

Aggressive, proactive response to the risks associated with this genetic mutation became part of the national conversation years ago when actress Angelina Jolie learned that she had the BRCA1 mutation and opted for a preventive double mastectomy. She then had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to guard against ovarian cancer.

The fact that Knowles has the mutation gives each of his children a 50% chance of having it. If any females have it, their risks increase sharply for breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

As a longtime volunteer for the American Heart Association, Knowles knew he was fighting more than cancer, the No. 2 killer of Americans. Cancer patients can experience cardiac complications related to treatments including chemotherapy and radiation or as a result of the hormonal changes that follow procedures such as removal of the ovaries.

His relationship with the AHA is why he chose to reveal what he’s been through with American Heart Association News in advance of his public disclosure Wednesday on “Good Morning America.”

Knowles–who managed supergroup Destiny’s Child and co-wrote their hit song “Survivor”–is sharing his story to draw attention to the links between heart disease and cancer, as well as other powerful messages:

• Men can have breast cancer.
• Genetic testing for mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene is often wise for men and women of all ethnicities with a family history of breast cancer.
• Early detection improves the chances for a successful outcome.

“I don’t want people to be worried–I want them to be proactive,” Knowles said. “The sooner you address it, the better you have a chance of having a normal lifestyle and living a normal life.”

So far, so good for Knowles.

Since the mastectomy, he’s been exercising more, watching what he eats and drinking less alcohol. He’s lost 15 pounds and hopes to drop 10 more. He’s also begun taking medicine to control his blood pressure and meditating to manage stress.

At 67, he understands that prioritizing his health lets him enjoy a full life. In the coming months, he’ll be releasing a book, album and musical about Destiny’s Child. He also teaches a weekly class in sports, event and entertainment marketing at Prairie View A&M University in Texas.

“What is quality of life?” Knowles said. “It’s not just money. It starts with health.”

***

As a former college basketball player who’s endured five surgeries related to his athletic career, Knowles has long been in tune with his body. A family history of heart disease and cancer also have helped him be vigilant with his medical care.

Still, when he squeezed his right nipple and blood emerged, his first thought was to find a simple reason for it.

Was he taking any new medicines? No.

“Did I hurt myself somehow?” he thought. “Could it be related to working out? Was it from something I ate? Are the cleaners using different chemicals?”

Once he eliminated those options, he considered breast cancer.

In addition to losing several relatives to it, the disease also was top of mind because his wife’s mom is battling it and, in January, his wife’s sister died of it. Tiffany Smith was 49. Her case made the news because her husband, Rick Smith, resigned as general manager of the NFL’s Houston Texans to care for her and their three kids. Along the way, Knowles saw the toll breast cancer took on her and her family.

While he figured it unlikely that he had breast cancer, Knowles couldn’t rule it out. So he tapped out a text to someone who could, his internist, Dr. James Muntz.

***

Muntz saw Knowles the next day. The doctor drained fluid from Knowles’ right nipple and sent the sample for testing.

In his 35-year career, Muntz had seen only one male patient with breast cancer. He already feared that he was seeing another.

Still, neither he nor Knowles used the words “breast cancer.”

“Mathew is pretty open about all this and seemed calm,” said Muntz, who also is the team doctor for Houston’s NFL, MLB and NBA teams. “But he was aware of what we were looking for.”

In fact, Knowles was uniquely aware of how breast cancer is detected.

***

In 1978, Knowles was selling office copiers for Xerox when he learned about a job opening in the medical division. The position was selling xeroradiography machines, an imaging device used to detect cancer, especially in breasts.

He prepared for the interview by spending countless hours at the library. He learned all he could about breast cancer and the technology behind detecting it.

Talking the talk helped him land the job. It also helped him become the top salesman. He later went to Philips, where his first role was selling CT scanners and MRIs. He ended up spending 20 years in diagnostic imaging, leaving to oversee Destiny’s Child.

***

When Muntz got results from the lab work, he sent Knowles for a mammogram.

Knowles managed to look at the scan.

“I could see it myself–a mass of less than 2 centimeters,” Knowles said. “I knew what that meant.”

A biopsy confirmed it was malignant. The mastectomy followed. Fortunately, the tumor was stage 1A, one of the earliest, and hadn’t spread.

But where did it come from? Why was he among the mere 2,000 or so men in the country likely to get diagnosed with breast cancer this year?

Everyone has BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. They’re important, too. They help cells stay healthy by repairing damage.

A change in any gene is called a mutation. A change in either BRCA gene makes certain types of cancer more likely, especially breast cancer.

Because only 0.1 percent of men develop breast cancer but up to 10 percent of men with a BRCA mutation develop it, doctors often recommend male breast cancer patients undergo a simple blood test to check for those mutations.

“Ten percent is not high in general, but it’s astronomically higher–up to 100 times–than for someone who doesn’t have the mutation,” said Dr. Susan Domchek, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, the world’s first comprehensive center aimed at advancing research, treatment and prevention of BRCA-related cancers.

Domchek also is part of Knowles’ medical team. They were introduced by AHA officials.

Knowing Knowles had the BRCA2 mutation was a game-changer.

For instance, had Knowles known it sooner, he would’ve had a double mastectomy from the start. His risk of developing cancer in his left breast remains only as high as 10 percent. Considering how his odds have broken thus far, his attitude is, “Why even have a risk?”

He also knows his risk of developing prostate cancer has gone from about 11 percent to as high as 25 percent, so he’s seeing a urologist. An MRI showed cause for concern, prompting further testing and monitoring.

Doctors also are paying close attention to elevated risks for cancer in his skin and pancreas.

***

The other crucial layer of Knowles knowing he has the BRCA2 mutation is what it means for his family.

Domchek frames it this way: “We often say that we don’t test people, we test families, because of the implications for families.”

Research is underway to determine which side of his family the mutation comes from. Anecdotal evidence makes it a toss-up.

On his mother’s side, breast cancer claimed an aunt and two first cousins. On his father’s side, an aunt recently was diagnosed with breast cancer, and prostate cancer claimed the lives of his grandfather and three uncles. Relatives from the affected side will get advice about what to do next.

Then there are his children and grandchildren.

In addition to each child facing a 50 percent chance of having the mutation, each grandchild has a 25 percent chance.

If any females have the mutation, their risk of breast cancer goes from 12 percent to 69 percent, and their risk of ovarian cancer goes from 1.3 percent to 17 percent. They will also need to monitor their skin and pancreas.

“I have let both Beyoncé and Solange be aware and know what’s required,” Knowles said. “They proudly do routine screening. … Fortunately, my daughters have a wonderful team of experts that have certainly been vigilant in making sure and ensuring that they’re OK.”

***

For every 10 women tested for BRCA mutations, only one man gets tested, Domchek said.

That makes it tougher for researchers. Tougher still is that among the men who get tested, most are white.

Knowles, therefore, can help break a lot of barriers for scientists and, ultimately, patients.

“An influential black man with breast cancer and the BRCA2 mutation? This is such an important story to share for so many reasons,” Domchek said. “This powerful story will impact and inspire so many.”

Knowles especially hopes his story resonates among African Americans, who often face numerous disparities in health and proper care.

After all, despite his extensive experience around cancer, he’d never heard of BRCA mutations until his ordeal. And he considers himself more fortunate than others. A case such as his could raise awareness and spur people into action.

Another way Knowles is trying to help is by joining the cohort of patients with a BRCA mutation being studied by Domchek’s team.

“We want to figure out why he developed breast cancer when most BRCA2 carriers do not,” she said. “The more we understand that, the more we can help others.”

***

For several years, Knowles has closed speeches by telling about the time he was at the Los Angeles International Airport and a woman gave him a card that read: “Pray not for a life free from trouble. Pray for triumph over trouble. What you and I call adversity, God calls opportunity.”

Now, he has a new appreciation for that sentiment.

“My opportunity is to help people have awareness of the BRCA gene (mutation) and of male breast cancer,” he said. “Things happens for a reason. I’m grateful for this opportunity to save myself, hopefully save my family and hopefully impact the world in an extremely positive way.”

From American Heart Association News

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1. Know your family history. Despite popular belief, most breast cancers—about 85 percent—occur in women who have no family history of the disease. But as many as 10 percent of cases can be linked to inherited genetic mutations, such as those on the BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 genes. Roughly 55 percent to 65 percent of women who inherit a harmful BRCA1 mutation and 45 percent of women who inherit a harmful BRCA2 mutation will develop breast cancer by age 70. If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancers, you should discuss genetic screening options with your physician and a cancer risk counselor trained in cancer genetics.
2. Get your mammogram. Confused about conflicting recommendations for screening? You’re not alone. Two years ago, the American Cancer Society revised its recommendation for annual mammograms, calling for yearly screenings to start at age 45 and continue through age 54. ACS says women 55 and older should get mammograms every two years. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every two years for women ages 50 to 74. Though both the ACS and the USPSTF revised their guidelines over concerns about false positives and unnecessary treatments, they did so with data from more than 20 years ago and old technology. And neither organization took into account disparities between black women and white women. Black women younger than 40 are being diagnosed with breast cancer—particularly aggressive forms—at an alarming rate. We are also more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis and have higher mortality rates from the disease. That said, assess your risk with your doctor. If it’s low, you may be able to follow the ACS or USPSTF recommendations. But if you’re at very high risk, start getting annual mammograms at age 40. You might also need an MRI.
3. Stick to a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese after menopause increases your breast cancer risk. Why? Fat tissue produces estrogen, and more fat tissue after menopause can increase risk by raising estrogen levels. In addition, women who are overweight also tend to have higher insulin levels, which has been linked to some cancers, including breast cancer, according to the ACS.
4. Move. Exercise reduces the cancer risk for all women, no matter their size or weight. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Or walk for 30 minutes five days a week.
5. Limit alcohol. Alcohol has been linked to higher breast cancer risk in all women. The more you drink, the higher your risk. So here’s a good rule of thumb: One alcoholic drink per day is linked to slightly higher risk of breast cancer compared to women who don’t drink at all. But up that to two to five drinks a day and the risk increases to 1.5 times that of women who don’t drink.
6. If you smoke, quit. The debate about a link between smoking and breast cancer is still ongoing. But some studies have connected long-term heavy smoking to a higher breast cancer risk. Since we know smoking is directly responsible for lung cancer and other health problems, experts suggest quitting to reduce the risk for breast cancer and to promote overall health.

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A new study, from the University of North Carolina and published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, confirms that knocking back more than seven alcoholic beverages a week raises the risk of developing breast cancer for black women, too.

“Alcohol is an important modifiable exposure, whereas many other risk factors are not,” said Melissa A. Troester, study lead and director of the Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility at UNC’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. “Women who are concerned about their risk of breast cancer could consider” drinking less if they’re currently raising a glass more than seven times a week.

Researchers on Troester’s team reviewed questionnaire responses about alcohol intake of more than 22,000 participants in the African-American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium. The found that overall, black women drink less than white women, but those who consume more than seven alcoholic beverages a week were at greater risk for almost all subtypes of breast cancer.

Those who drank 14 or more alcoholic beverages each week were 33 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. But the study showed only a link between alcohol and breast cancer, not a cause-and-effect connection. Other important breast cancer risk factors for breast cancer include weight, reproductive history, birth control use and family history. And more studies are needed to determine how each of these factors affects each race, Troester said.

“Understanding the impact of these various risk factors could help narrow the disparity in breast cancer incidence and mortality,” she said.

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• Meditation got an A. This therapy is recommended for lessening anxiety, improving depression and quality of life.
• Yoga and music therapy got a B. These therapies lessen anxiety and improving mood. Yoga also got a B for improving quality of life.
• Acupuncture and acupressure got a B. When combined with conventional drugs, these therapies worked well for lessening chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
• Yoga, acupuncture and hypnosis got a C. In conjunction, the three reduced fatigue.
• Acetyl-L-carnitine received an H. The study found this supplement, often used by breast cancer patients to help with fatigue or with nerve problems associated with chemotherapy, can cause harm. Investigators found acetyl-L-carnitine was ineffective for fighting fatigue and could make nerve problems worse.

Don’t look to integrative therapies to save your life, however. The research doesn’t provide any evidence of their ability to do that.

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Living a generally healthy lifestyle overall also appears to help lower a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, according to a new review.
The review found exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol could all reduce breast cancer odds.
The report, from the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund, is based on an analysis of more than 100 studies. It included 119 studies looking at the relationship between breast cancer risk and diet, exercise and body weight.
Researchers found regular exercise was tied to small reductions in the risk of breast cancer. But risk was elevated among women who drank regularly, even those who consumed a “moderate” one drink a day. And those who were overweight throughout adulthood faced an increased risk of breast cancer after menopause.
The bottom line, said Anne McTiernan, M.D., of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, is that women can take steps to cut their odds of developing the disease.
“I think of lifestyle choices as being like wearing a seatbelt,” Dr. McTiernan,  one of the report authors, said. “It’s not a guarantee you’ll avoid injury in a car accident, but it significantly reduces your risk.”
In the United States, on average, a woman has about a one-in-eight chance of developing breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Some of the risk factors for the disease cannot be changed, such as older age or a strong family history of breast cancer. But lifestyle still makes a significant difference. Research shows us more than 50 percent of cancers are preventable with lifestyle choices.
If women take steps to lower their breast cancer risk, they may also reduce the odds of developing other cancers and other major diseases, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The lifestyle changes don’t have to be extreme. The research review found women who were moderately active throughout the day tended to have a lower risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.
Overall, women with the highest amounts of daily activity—think: a 30-minute fast-paced walk—were 13 percent less likely to develop postmenopausal breast cancer, versus women with the lowest activity levels. Moderate activity also included housework, gardening and other daily tasks.
Physical activity throughout the day is key. “Once you do your 30-minute walk, don’t spend the rest of the day on the couch,” Dr. McTiernan said.
The study found the risk of breast cancer dropped by 10 percent in postmenopausal women who were the most active when it came to vigorous exercise, compared to the least active. Women who were overweight or obese faced a higher risk of breast cancer after menopause. For every five-point increase in body mass index, the risk of breast cancer rose by 12 percent, McTiernan said.
On the alcohol front, the review found even moderate drinking was tied to increased breast cancer risk: Drinking the equivalent of a small glass of wine each day boosted the odds of breast cancer by 5 percent to 9 percent.
Should you give up that glass of wine with dinner? That depends. If a woman is thin, physically active and doesn’t smoke, the small additional risk from a glass of wine might not matter.
But the calculation changes for a woman with risk factors, such as a strong family history of breast cancer.
The study found limited evidence linking specific diet habits to breast cancer risk. But a handful of studies have connected diets high in dairy, calcium and non-starchy vegetables to a lower risk, the report noted. Foods containing carotenoids—carrots, kale and spinach—have also been tied to a benefit.

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“There are so many ‘good-for-you’ foods to choose from that the list could be a mile long,” says Stacy Kennedy, a nutritionist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “But if I had to pick just five, I would start in the produce aisle of the grocery store.”

Remember: If it comes from the ground and can stain a shirt, you want to be eating it.

“The key is color,” says Kennedy. “That is where the phytonutrients, or cancer-fighting properties, can be found. They help protect the produce and can also be beneficial for humans by strengthening the immune system.”

Here is a list of five of Kennedy’s favorite foods:

Kale may be the new “it” food, but long before it was popular, it was one of Kennedy’s favorites. “Kale is one of my go-to choices, because it’s rich in a phytonutrient called indoles, which stimulates liver detoxification and helps fight cancer,” says Kennedy. Indoles are found in the rich, dark green color of kale. Other members of the cruciferous family include broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.

The American Cancer Society suggests consuming one serving of cruciferous vegetables a day, and studies show people who have diets rich in these vegetables have been found to have lower incidences of lung cancer, prostate cancer and stomach cancer.

Kale that is cooked by steaming also may have cholesterol-lowering benefits. Try it in a hearty seafood stew with tomatoes, saffron and kale.

“Tomatoes are a great food because they are rich in a phytonutrient called lycopene, which has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer,” explains Kennedy.

Tomatoes are available year-round in the supermarket, but when they are in season, try to buy them at local farm stands. That’s when they are at their nutritional peak.

A tip for getting the most nutritional value from tomatoes is to buy local, make them into a sauce and freeze it to use year-round. The lycopene is best absorbed when the tomato is cooked. Including a healthy fat, like olive oil or avocado, helps pack a more nutritional punch. Try them fresh in this dish of angel hair pasta with tomatoes and avocado.

Sweet potatoes and yams are other foods that should be enjoyed year-round. They are rich in a phytonutrient called carotenoids. “As little as two servings a day of carotenoids have been shown to help reduce the risk of breast cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer,” says Kennedy.

What other foods are rich in carotenoids? Think orange like carrots, acorn or butternut squash, and pumpkin.

Phytonutrients like carotenoids are available in pill form, but Kennedy warns that they do not have the same protective properties as those found in whole foods and may even cause harm in certain individuals.

To get the healthiest boost, Kennedy says it is best to eat the food in its whole form. One of her favorites is a roasted vegetable salad.

Studies suggest that eating at least one apple a day can help prevent throat, mouth, colon, lung and possibly breast cancer. Besides being crisp, sweet and juicy, apples contain quercetin, a nutrient that protects the cell’s DNA from damage that could lead to the development of cancer.

“It’s best to choose organic, when possible, and eat them raw and with the skin on,” says Kennedy. “That’s where many of the nutrients are found.”

Although it may not be found in the produce aisle, quinoa is a great source of  protein. It’s naturally gluten-free and often called an ancient grain because it’s been grown for thousands of years. Quinoa is actually a seed that can be ground into flour.

It is considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa is also rich in fiber and minerals like iron, magnesium and calcium, plus phytonutrients like quercetin.

Quinoa is a nice alternative to protein-rich foods like meat and fish. Other alternatives include lentils, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains and dark green, leafy vegetables.

From Bay State Banner

The post 5 Foods That Could Lower Your Cancer Risk appeared first on Black Health Matters.

• Diagnosis. Certain drugs are a better choice for specific symptoms and types of depression. For example, an antidepressant that makes you sleepy may be better when insomnia is an issue. The severity of your illness or the presence of anxiety, obsessions, or compulsions may also dictate the choice of one drug over another.
• Side effects. You may want to choose a drug based on which side effect you most want to avoid. Medications vary in the likelihood they will cause such problems as sexual effects, weight gain, or sedation.
• Age. As you age, your body tends to break down drugs more slowly. Thus, older people may need a lower dose. For children, only a few medications have been studied carefully.
• Health. If you have certain health problems, it’s best to avoid certain drugs. For example, your doctor will want to consider factors such as heart disease or neurological illnesses when recommending a drug. For this reason, it’s important to discuss medical problems with a primary care doctor or psychiatrist before starting an antidepressant.
• Medications, supplements, and diet. When combined with certain drugs or substances, antidepressants may not work as well, or they may have worrisome or dangerous side effects. For example, combining an SSRI or another antidepressant with the herbal remedy St. John’s wort can boost serotonin to dangerous and, in rare cases, fatal levels. Mixing St. John’s wort with other drugs—including certain drugs to control HIV infection, cancer medications, and birth control pills—might lower their effectiveness. Women receiving tamoxifen for breast cancer should take an antidepressant that does not interfere with tamoxifen’s effectiveness. Eating certain foods, such as aged cheeses and cured meats, while taking an MAOI can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure.
• Alcohol or illicit drugs. Alcohol and other substances can cause depression and make antidepressants less effective. Doctors often treat alcohol or drug addiction first if they believe either is causing the depression. In many instances, simultaneous treatment for addiction and depression is warranted.
• Personal and family mental health and medication history. If you or a member of your family has had a good response to a medication in the past, that information may guide your choice. Depending on the nature and course of your depression (for example, if your depression is long-lasting or difficult to treat), you may need a higher dose or a combination of drugs. This may also be true if an antidepressant has stopped working for you, which may occur after you’ve used it for some time or after you’ve stopped and restarted treatment with it.
• Cost. Since all antidepressants are roughly equivalent in their effectiveness, you won’t lose anything by trying a generic version first.
• Your preference. Once you have learned as much as you can about the treatment options, your doctor will want to know what approach makes most sense given your lifestyle, your interests, and your judgment.

The post Which Medication Is Best for Depression? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We are the core from which everyone must grow, learn, thrive and prosper, but under continuously adverse conditions. Our nurturing skills go far beyond the daily norm of checks and balances that other women use. Our instincts are sharp and certain because they have to be. We inherited that faculty from our mother, who inherited it from her mother. These are not uncharted waters, and we innately know which way to steer our children and men in order to help them reconcile their helplessness in the face of unwarranted injustices.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to utilize our instincts and nurturing skills for ourselves, and we look at every possible option when faced with serious health issues like breast cancer. Today, clinical research can be an untapped resource, particularly if you’re living with breast cancer. Clinical studies are at the heart of progress in finding new and more effective medicines. And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, what better time to get involved?

Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company, has formalized the perfect starting point for patients to research clinical trials for breast cancer and other serious diseases.

BMSStudyConnect.com is the pathway for patients, their caregivers and physicians to learn more about how clinical trials work and how they might be part of making sure new medicines are effective and safe. The site provides patients with the full spectrum of the clinical study process so they can have a more active role in their health care. If you choose, you can read about other patients’ stories.

BMSStudyConnect.com has made it possible for a wider variety of patients to take advantage of clinical studies. What’s more, BMSStudyConnect.com not only allows you to search for clinical trials by disease and location, but you can also pre-screen for a trial to see if you are a match. You’ll find everything you need to know to become a confident participant. For more information, please visit BMSStudyConnect.com.

The post Trust and Thrive appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Among all the pink ribbons, the walks, the professional sports donning pink for a game in October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Sheila hadn’t seen anything specific for anyone that looked like her. But despite this lack of representation in breast cancer awareness and education campaigns, Black women on average are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women with the disease—a fact that has taken Sheila down a path of learning, advocating and educating. 

Since being diagnosed, she has worked with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Young Survival Coalition, Story Half Told, National Breast Cancer Coalition and Susan G. Komen. Most recently, Sheila has been involved with Find Your MBC Voice, an initiative from Pfizer Inc., helping to empower women and men living with mBC to take an active role in making a shared decision with their doctor about their treatment plan. 

Ten years after her diagnosis, Sheila still appreciates the small miracles, like her daughter graduating from college and finding love with her now-husband. She says those miracles have been possible in large part because of her relationship with her oncologist, who worked hand in hand with her to ensure she was aware of all possible treatment options, including a clinical trial, which enabled Sheila to receive a new treatment that worked for her type of mBC. 

However, participation in clinical trials is not the norm for many Black women with breast cancer; in a recent analysis of cancer clinical trials, only 6.2 percent of participants were Black. Black women and men are underrepresented in cancer clinical trials, leading to both a lack of significant data in this population of patients and thus deriving less benefit from advancements in the field. These findings highlight that it is critical for people with the disease to speak up and ask their health care providers about ongoing clinical trials. 

Speaking up can start with educating friends and family on the importance of seeking annual breast cancer screenings and mammograms. Encourage them to be screened regularly, too. This year more than ever, it’s critical to continue annual check-ups. No matter the outcome of those screenings, its important Black women and men find their voice and speak up about their treatment wants and needs with their doctors. A good resource is Find Your MBC Voice, which provides people living with mBC with information on how to speak up with their doctor about their treatment options and provides tools such as the Treatment Discussion Guide. 

Sheila was recently featured in the September 2020 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, and hopes her story will inspire others to have discussions with their doctors about all possible treatment options, including clinical trials. In the article she shared, “My life is not about me anymore—it’s all about who I can help. I want to encourage mBC patients to simply wake up and live each day, and to see that you can live a joyous life with cancer. Know that I am out there fighting for you, and you are not alone.” 

Raising awareness hasn’t been easy, but the fact that Sheila’s story is shared at the national level is a great example of changes that are happening to ensure equal representation for Black patients impacted by breast cancer. 

For additional information and resources on living with metastatic breast cancer or how to support someone who is, visit FindYourMBCVoice.com.  

Sponsorship provided by Pfizer

The post Amplifying Black Women’s Breast Cancer Stories appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Nowhere is this skill more important than when we use that power to support a sister in her battle against breast cancer. This means speaking up for women less fortunate than we are, choosing collaboration over competition and helping women be proactive about their health. We also uplift when we help a woman advocate for her well-being when it comes to breast health. This includes the importance of knowing their own breasts and making sure they get an annual mammogram.

We can also support our sisters when we talk to them about the importance of participating in clinical trials. Clinical research opens more possibilities, especially for women living with breast cancer. In fact, clinical research is at the forefront of finding new and more effective treatments.There’s no better time to talk to one’s mother, grandmother, aunt or sister about clinical trials and let them know we’re there for full support.

It’s also a time to learn why inclusiveness is important to the research process and why Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to diversity at all levels. As a leading, international biopharmaceutical company, Bristol Myers Squibb has developed a comprehensive website for patients to research clinical trials for breast cancer and other serious diseases. BMSStudyConnect.com is a pathway for patients, their caregivers and physicians to learn more about how clinical trials work.The site provides patients with the full spectrum of the clinical study process in order to take a more active role in their health care.

BMSStudyConnect.com has made it possible for a wider variety of patients to take advantage of clinical studies. What’s more, BMSStudyConnect.com not only allows patients to search for clinical trials by disease and location, but also pre-screen for a trial to see if they are a match. It’s a one-stop shop to find everything essential to become a confident participant and support for a sister. Visit BMSStudyConnect.com for more information.

The post Support a Sister appeared first on Black Health Matters.

So what is the best way to find breast cancer early? Twenty years ago, a physical examination of the breast—either by a woman herself (a breast self-exam) or by a trained health care provider (a clinical breast exam)—was considered an essential early detection tool. Educational materials on how to perform self-exams were widely distributed, and women were strongly encouraged to learn the technique and perform it monthly. 

Today, the role of the self-exam in early detection is less clear. 

As an advanced practice nurse at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Kimberly Hoskins counsels patients on breast cancer risk factors and early detection strategies. Here, she tackles the who, why and when of breast self-exams.

The breast self-exam went from “essential” to “optional.” What changed?

“Both research and advances in clinical practice have made us smarter about the right role for the self-exam,” Hoskins said. 

In 2003, the American Cancer Society revised their guidelines based on what researchers found—or rather, didn’t find—about the benefits of regular physical breast exams. Studies showed very little evidence that breast self-exams and clinical breast exams were effective in finding early breast cancers in women who also get regular mammograms.

“Mammography has been proven better at finding early stage, small breast tumors than physical breast examination,” she said. “And mammography continues to improve, becoming more widely available and more technically advanced, including 3D imaging.”

“Research has also shown that breast self-examinations can lead to unnecessary worry and anxiety, as well as unnecessary appointments and even breast biopsies, when a woman thinks she feels something. Some lumps a woman can feel end up being benign,” Hoskins said. “Conversely, a woman who relies only on self-exams can develop a false sense of security when she doesn’t feel something. She may conclude she does not need regular mammography.” 

So is the self-exam a thing of the past?

“No,” Hoskins said. “But for women at average risk of breast cancer, we no longer consider traditional monthly self-exams to be essential for early detection. That doesn’t mean we don’t want women to be familiar with the characteristics of their breasts. A significant number of breast cancers are still found based on something a woman saw or felt. We advise women to get to know their breasts, so they can recognize any changes that need to be checked by a provider.” 

ACS guidelines note women are most likely to find a lump or other troublesome symptom while bathing or dressing than as a result of a formal self-exam.

What constitutes “average” and “high” risk?

“On average, a woman faces a 12 percent lifetime risk—a one in eight chance—of developing breast cancer over her lifetime,” Hoskins said. “That is considered ‘average’ risk. That risk doubles to a one in four or 25 percent chance if she has a first degree relative—a mother, sister or child—who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Anything above 20 percent is considered ‘high risk.’”  

Are traditional monthly self-exams still recommended for women at high risk?

“Yes, women at high risk for breast cancer should perform regular self-exams and/or have regular clinical breast exams,” Hoskins said. “And while considered ‘optional’ for average risk women, regular breast self-examination is also a good practice for women not scheduled for a yearly mammogram—those under the age of 45 or over the age of 55. Before menopause, women should do their breast self-exams after their monthly period ends. After menopause, they should do one on the same day each month.”

What types of concerns might be discovered by a self-exam?

According to Hoskins, women should call their provider if they observe any of the following:

1. Any discharge from the nipple that comes out without pressing on the nipple or breast
2. A lump or hard knot (that might feel like a pebble or rock) in the breast or under the arm
3. A change in the size or shape of a breast
4. An inversion or sinking in of the nipple
5. Puckering, dimpling (looking like orange peel) or bulges in the skin of the breast 
6. A rash, sore, or peeling or flaking of skin around the nipple
7. Any change in the color of the breast, such as redness or darkening skin
8. The breast feeling warmer or hotter than usual

From Michigan Health

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Ananda Lewis, former MTV Veejay and TV personality, is seeking to get women to take the proper precautions and get mammograms, as early detection is key to successful treatment for cancer. She knows this and is doing so because, as she revealed in an IG TV video, she has breast cancer and has been fighting it for two years.

The 47-year-old admitted that for a long time she passed on getting mammograms because her own mother went and had them consistently, and eventually was diagnosed with breast cancer. She assumed it was the low energy X-rays that exposed her to the disease.

“I said, ‘Huh! Radiation exposure for years equals breast cancer. Yeah, I’m going to pass,’” she said. “‘Thanks anyway.’”

She still believes that an accumulation of radiation in your body can cause cancer, but says had she gone and had mammograms, just a few, her cancer would have been caught earlier and her exposure to radiation would have been minimal. Instead, she ended up having two PET scans, which she said equal out to about 30 mammograms each in terms of radiation exposure, or 60 in total.

“If I had done the mammograms from the time they were recommended when I turned 40, they would have caught the tumor in my breast years before I caught it through my own breast exam, self-exam and thermography,” she said. “They would have caught it at a place where it was more manageable, where the treatment of it would have been a little easier. It’s never easy, but I use that word in comparison to what I’m going through now.”

She shared that she presently has stage 3 breast cancer in her lymph nodes. She’s opted for 100 percent alternative natural treatments (“I’ve done everything”), which she said have helped the condition “not spread like wildfire in my body.” But until it’s gone she said she has a lot of work to do.

“I wish I could go back,” she said. “I have a 9-year-old I need to be here for. I have no intention on leaving him.”

With a little bit of regret on her mind, she shared her story in the hopes of getting other people to be proactive sooner.

“I need you to share this with the women in your life who may be as stubborn as I was about mammograms. And I need you to tell them that they have to do it,” she said. “Early detection, especially for breast cancer, changes your outcome. It can save their life.”

“For me it was important to come to you and admit where I went wrong with this because it could help you or someone you know,” she added.

But Lewis is determined to not let this thing steal her joy. She also plans to keep things natural, and to not have people feel sorry for her. She is confident that things will work out fine because she has faith in a multitude of things, including herself.

“For me, alternative is still the best way. I stand by that,” she said. “I believe in the power of my body. I believe in the intelligence of my body. I believe in my power, and I believe in the power of my God. And all of that is going to help me.”

From MadameNoire

The post Ananda Lewis: ‘I Need You to Get Your Mammograms’ appeared first on Black Health Matters.

The answer is yes. A mammogram, an imaging test used to screen women for breast cancer, is your best chance of detecting breast cancer early when treatment is most effective.

That’s why the American Cancer Society recommends women begin breast cancer screening with mammograms around age 40 and commit to getting yearly mammograms by age 45. While women aged 55 and older may switch to screening every two years or continue annual screening, routine screening every year is the best way to prevent breast cancer.

Because our cancers are still found at a later stage than our white counterparts, and we are more likely to die from breast cancer, Black women should follow the advice of the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging and get a mammogram every year starting at age 40. If you have a close relative (mother, sister) who has had breast cancer, talk to your doctor about getting tested earlier.

A mammogram may not bring you joy, but it could mean the difference between life and death. So check out these six reasons to get one:

1. Cancer or an abnormality can’t always be felt. Mammograms can find breast cancer long before you or your doctor are able to feel a lump in your breast. Don’t get us wrong: Breast self-exams are important (you should know your breasts intimately), but you may not feel any changes until a sizable lump has formed. By the time that happens, breast cancer is already growing, spreading and harder to treat. A mammogram can detect changes to your breast tissue as small as grains of sand, making it the best tool for detecting cancer as early as possible.

2. When caught early, breast cancer is 99 percent curable. No, mammograms can’t prevent breast cancer, but they can help detect it early when there are more treatment options—and before it spreads to other parts of the body. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected while it’s contained to the breast, the survival rate is nearly 100 percent.

3. A mammogram can save your life—and your breasts. When breast cancer is detected early, you may not need a mastectomy or surgical removal of the affected breast. Instead, a lumpectomy may be used to remove only the cancerous tumor while preserving the healthy tissue around it.

4. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you age—even if no one else in your family has it. The older you are, the more your risk of developing breast cancer. That’s why mammograms aren’t a one-and-done option. It’s important to get screened for breast cancer every year starting at the age of 40. While being a woman and advancing age are the most significant risk factors, there are others, including:

• Obesity
• Alcohol use
• Physical inactivity
• Family history

Even if you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, you aren’t necessarily in the clear. The majority of women with breast cancer, about 85 percent, have no family history of the disease. So even if no one in your family has breast cancer, you are still at risk of developing it yourself.

5. It takes only 20 minutes. We’re not going to lie: A mammogram isn’t the most comfortable procedure (a skilled technician should be able to minimize your discomfort, and you can minimize the unpleasantness by following these tips), but getting one takes only 20 minutes.

6. As of now, it’s free for eligible patients. Under the Affordable Care Act, women’s preventive health care, including mammograms, generally must be covered with no cost sharing. You also may be eligible for a free mammogram if you are:

• Age 40 or older
• Living on a limited income
• Uninsured or underinsured.

The post 6 Reasons to Get a Mammogram appeared first on Black Health Matters.

African Americans are significantly underrepresented in clinical research in the United States. Because of this underrepresentation, we don’t know if many of today’s medicines are equally safe and effective for us.

African Americans represent 13.4 percent of the population, yet the FDA reports that only 5 percent have participated in a clinical trial. There are many factors for this, which include limited access to health care and cultural suspicions of the medical establishment. A major reason African Americans don’t take part in clinical trials is because they don’t know about them or understand about the possibility of clinical trial participation.

Increasing diversity in clinical research will ultimately improve relevance of discoveries and health equity. This is where Bristol Myers Squibb, an international biopharmaceutical company, excels. BMS has initiated breast cancer clinical trials. What’s more, through BMSStudyConnect.com, an online resource that allows patients to familiarize themselves with the clinical trial process in the privacy of their own home, the company has established an ideal way for patients to learn more about clinical research.

For more information about clinical trials, visit BMSstudyConnect.com

The post Did You Know: Black Women Not Represented in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials appeared first on Black Health Matters.

People who fit this description are more likely to die from COVID-19 than any other group in the country.

They are perishing quietly, out of sight, in homes and apartment buildings, senior housing complexes, nursing homes and hospitals, disproportionately poor, frail and ill, after enduring a lifetime of racism and its attendant adverse health effects.

Yet, older Black Americans have received little attention as protesters proclaim that Black Lives Matter and experts churn out studies about the coronavirus.

“People are talking about the race disparity in COVID deaths, they’re talking about the age disparity, but they’re not talking about how race and age disparities interact: They’re not talking about older Black adults,” said Robert Joseph Taylor, director of the Program for Research on Black Americans at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

A KHN analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscores the extent of their vulnerability. It found that African Americans ages 65 to 74 died of COVID-19 five times as often as whites. In the 75-to-84 group, the death rate for Blacks was 3.5 times greater. Among those 85 and older, Blacks died twice as often. In all three age groups, death rates for Hispanics were higher than for whites but lower than for Blacks.

(The gap between Blacks and whites narrows over time because advanced age, itself, becomes an increasingly important, shared risk. Altogether, 80 percent of COVID-19 deaths are among people 65 and older.)

The data comes from the week that ended February 1 through August 8. Although breakdowns by race and age were not consistently reported, it is the best information available.

Mistrustful of Outsiders

Social and economic disadvantage, reinforced by racism, plays a significant part in unequal outcomes. Throughout their lives, Blacks have poorer access to health care and receive services of lower quality than does the general population. Starting in middle age, the toll becomes evident: more chronic medical conditions, which worsen over time, and earlier deaths.

Several conditions—diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, among others—put older Blacks at heightened risk of becoming seriously ill and dying from COVID-19.

Yet many vulnerable Black seniors are deeply distrustful of government and health care institutions, complicating efforts to mitigate the pandemic’s impact.

The infamous Tuskegee syphilis study—in which African American participants in Alabama were not treated for their disease—remains a shocking, indelible example of racist medical experimentation. Just as important, the lifelong experience of racism in health care settings—symptoms discounted, needed treatments not given—leaves psychic scars.

In Seattle, Catholic Community Services sponsors the African American Elders Program, which serves nearly 400 frail homebound seniors each year.

“A lot of Black elders in this area migrated from the South a long time ago and were victims of a lot of racist practices growing up,” said Margaret Boddie, 77, who directs the program. “With the pandemic, they’re fearful of outsiders coming in and trying to tell them how to think and how to be. They think they’re being targeted. There’s a lot of paranoia.”

“They won’t open the door to people they don’t know, even to talk,” complicating efforts to send in social workers or nurses to provide assistance, Boddie said.

In Los Angeles, Karen Lincoln directs Advocates for African American Elders and is an associate professor of social work at the University of Southern California.

“Health literacy is a big issue in the older African American population because of how people were educated when they were young,” she said. “My maternal grandmother, she had a third-grade education. My grandfather, he made it to the fifth grade. For many people, understanding the information that’s put out, especially when it changes so often and people don’t really understand why, is a challenge.”

What this population needs, Lincoln suggested, is “help from people who they can relate to”—ideally, a cadre of African American community health workers.

With suspicion running high, older Blacks are keeping to themselves and avoiding health care providers.

“Testing? I know only of maybe two people who’ve been tested,” said Mardell Reed, 80, who lives in Pasadena, California, and volunteers with Lincoln’s program. “Taking a vaccine [for the coronavirus]? That is just not going to happen with most of the people I know. They don’t trust it and I don’t trust it.”

Reed has high blood pressure, anemia, arthritis and thyroid and kidney disease, all fairly well controlled. She rarely goes outside because of COVID-19. “I’m just afraid of being around people,” she admitted.

Other factors contribute to the heightened risk for older Blacks during the pandemic. They have fewer financial resources to draw upon and fewer community assets (such as grocery stores, pharmacies, transportation, community organizations that provide aging services) to rely on in times of adversity. And housing circumstances can contribute to the risk of infection.

In Chicago, Gilbert James, 78, lives in a 27-floor senior housing building, with 10 apartments on each floor. But only two of the building’s three elevators are operational at any time. Despite a “two-person-per-elevator policy,” people crowd onto the elevators, making it difficult to maintain social distance.

“The building doesn’t keep us updated on how they’re keeping things clean or whether people have gotten sick or died” of COVID-19, James said. Nationally, there are no efforts to track COVID-19 in low-income senior housing and little guidance about necessary infection control.

Large numbers of older Blacks also live in intergenerational households, where other adults, many of them essential workers, come and go for work, risking exposure to the coronavirus. As children return to school, they, too, are potential vectors of infection.

‘Striving Yet Never Arriving’

In recent years, the American Psychological Association has called attention to the impact of racism-related stress in older African Americans—yet another source of vulnerability.

This toxic stress, revived each time racism becomes manifest, has deleterious consequences to physical and mental health. Even racist acts committed against others can be a significant stressor.

“This older generation went through the civil rights movement. Desegregation. Their kids went through busing. They grew up with a knee on their neck, as it were,” said Keith Whitfield, provost at Wayne State University and an expert on aging in African Americans. “For them, it was an ongoing battle, striving yet never arriving. But there’s also a lot of resilience that we shouldn’t underestimate.”

This year, for some elders, violence against Blacks and COVID-19’s heavy toll on African American communities have been painful triggers. “The level of stress has definitely increased,” Lincoln said.

During ordinary times, families and churches are essential supports, providing practical assistance and emotional nurturing. But during the pandemic, many older Blacks have been isolated.

In her capacity as a volunteer, Reed has been phoning Los Angeles seniors. “For some of them, I’m the first person they’ve talked to in two to three days. They talk about how they don’t have anyone. I never knew there were so many African American elders who never married and don’t have children,” she said.

Meanwhile, social networks that keep elders feeling connected to other people are weakening.

“What is especially difficult for elders is the disruption of extended support networks, such as neighbors or the people they see at church,” said Taylor, of the University of Michigan. “Those are the ‘Hey, how are you doing? How are your kids? Anything you need?’ interactions. That type of caring is very comforting and it’s now missing.”

In Brooklyn, New York, Barbara Apparicio, 77, has been having Bible discussions with a group of church friends on the phone each weekend. Apparicio is a breast cancer survivor who had a stroke in 2012 and walks with a cane. Her son and his family live in an upstairs apartment, but she does not see him much.

“The hardest part for me [during this pandemic] has been not being able to go out to do the things I like to do and see people I normally see,” she said.

In Atlanta, Celestine Bray Bottoms, 83, who lives on her own in an affordable senior housing community, is relying on her faith to pull her through what has been a very difficult time. Bottoms was hospitalized with chest pains this month—a problem that persists. She receives dialysis three times a week and has survived leukemia.

“I don’t like the way the world is going. Right now, it’s awful,” she said. “But every morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is thank the Lord for another day. I have a strong faith and I feel blessed because I’m still alive. And I’m doing everything I can not to get this virus because I want to be here a while longer.”

From Kaiser Health News

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So, we back up and try to decide what to do next. But what needs fixing if we feel we’re doing everything right? We think twice and spend more for the food we eat in an effort to safeguard our health. We see doctors regularly, control our blood pressure, take meds as prescribed and have annual tests as directed. So, of course, there’s no doubt that we’re on the right track.

Using proven knowledge and experience to stay well is always a smart move, especially when it involves serious health issues like breast cancer. And finding a new, unexpected resource can really lift your spirits. A force in the field of innovative medicines, Bristol Myers Squibb may be a resource you want to consider. An industry leader in international biopharmaceuticals, BMS has initiated new, global breast cancer clinical trials. What’s more, they’ve established an ideal way for you to learn more about them. BMSStudyConnect.com is an online clinical resource that allows patients to familiarize themselves with the clinical trial process in the privacy of their home. This is an invaluable opportunity for you or anyone you know, including men, living with breast cancer. Check it out for yourself, and please be certain to pass it on.

When we look back over all we’ve done to stay healthy and maintain a positive outlook, we can rest assured that you’re giving yourself quality care. Being positive is a power that feeds mind, body and spirit. What’s more, it’s the very framework that promotes an overall healthier life and better treatment outcomes. Keeping mind, body and spirit aligned should be everyone’s objective. It improves your outlook and it has positive effects on every part of your life.

The post Positive Outlook for Positive Outcome appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Breast cancer in Black women is a distinct disease that deserves special attention and focus from the breast cancer ecosystem. The physiology of Black women has not been a significant consideration in clinical trial research, and the average participation by Black women in breast cancer clinical trials overall is less than 3 percent. Part of our reluctance to get involved in medical research can be attributed to the fact that nearly one-third of us believe scientists cannot be trusted, compared to 4 percent of white women.

Black breast cancer patients die at a 40 percent higher rate than white breast cancer patients, and these devastating mortality numbers will not change until we better understand the physiology of Black women. When we’re not in clinical trials, we miss access to newly emerging and often life-extending treatments not otherwise available. Until we have more Black women included in clinical research, we cannot end these disparities.

To address this issue head on, we must act now.

That’s why we are ecstatic about launching #BlackDataMatters, a program that puts patients in a position of power to change clinical research and the medical system that often fails Black patients.

This free initiative makes it easy to control health data by collecting, digitizing and organizing medical records through the Ciitizen platform. Empowered with our health data, we can drive change to eliminate breast cancer health inequities and improve research that can help our community collectively, creating the database researchers need to design new treatments, specifically for Black breast cancer patients.

“People have no idea how important their records are,” breast cancer warrior Terrilynn Wade said. “You don’t want to have to wait for your records down the line when you need them. To have them all in place is an amazing thing.” 

The process is fast and easy. Wade signed up for Ciitizen in less than five minutes with her 3-month-old granddaughter sitting on her lap.

“We don’t have time to dilly dally with paperwork,” Chawnté Randall said. “We need decisions fast, in a hurry. With all of my records compiled in a Ciitizen account, that’s one less thing I have to worry about.”

#BlackDataMatters will drive access to research opportunities for our community. With medical data secure, protected and private in a Ciitizen profile, women can share it for their own care, use it to apply for a clinical trial and donate it to fuel lifesaving research. We’re democratizing precision medicine by giving patients the ability to control their own care, while contributing to research that will save lives.

“Clinical trials are a way to make a difference for yourself and our community. Every step we’ve taken in the fight against cancer has come from these trials,” Sharon Rivera, a triple-negative breast cancer survivor, said. “We don’t have a cure, but these scientists are working to save our lives.”

In order to help our community effectively, we must overcome the huge barrier of mistrust based on the harmful scientific history of exploitation and racism by providing tools that give Black women confidence that their data will be protected and safe. The history of the Tuskegee study and Henrietta Lacks have left their mark on our collective psyche, but we have to get past this.

James Lillard, M.D., an immune-biologist leading the Morehouse School of Medicine Total Cancer Care Program, has teamed up with #BlackDataMatters to provide instant and easy access to research for patients. As a trusted voice in the Black community, he believes the partnership will be transformative for Black patients: “As we engage these Black breast cancer patients, they’ll also have the opportunity to sign up for our Total Cancer Care study, where we will provide patients with a clinical sequencing panel and genetic testing free of charge,” he said. “With that information, clinical treatment decisions can be made based on the mutations driving their cancer.”

Talullah Anderson, a three-time breast cancer survivor and founder of 2for2 Boobs, a Washington, D.C.-based breast cancer foundation that focuses on the importance of early detection, is thrilled to be in this collaborative. “I am excited to be part of this national movement that provides an invaluable service to patients and gives them access to life-saving research,” she said. “It’s time to stand up, take control of our health and let the medical industry know #blackdatamatters!”

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The post Clinical Trials Save Lives appeared first on Black Health Matters.

But that is clearly not the case with Blue Cross Blue Shield in North Carolina. In a recent notice to policy holders, effective July 1, 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield will no longer cover the cost of white blood cell growth factors, which are administered in conjunction with chemotherapy treatments, unless “the patient has a documented life-threatening side effect that required medical intervention.”

As a survivor who has had two tours of duty on aggressive chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer, let me break down to you what this really means for cancer patients.

Chemotherapy kills cells throughout your body, significantly weakens your immune system and puts the patient at high risk for viral and bacterial infections. When I was on chemo, my oncologist highly recommended I wear a mask in public settings, avoid close contact with people and wash my hands frequently to avoid germs that could cause an infection and put my life at risk. Sounds similar to COVID-19 restrictions, right?

Additionally, I was given an essential medication immediately after chemo to enhance my white blood cell growth (white blood cells fight infections) so my body could rebuild my immune system more rapidly and help me recover safely prior to my next chemo infusion.

That white blood cell growth medication must be administered exactly 24 hours after chemotherapy and is most effectively delivered as an on-body injector that is administered while a patient is at their chemotherapy session. The medication, Neulasta Onpro, is necessary to decrease the incidence of infection. Neulasta Onpro is clearly the drug of choice for immune system protection after chemotherapy, as 95 percent of both patients and nurses choose it again.

All this to say that this essential medication is no longer covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield in the state of North Carolina. The impact of this is significant:

1. The patient (now with a very compromised immune system) would have to come back to the germ-infected, COVID-prevalent hospital 24 hours after chemotherapy, putting them at severe risk as they potentially take public transportation and sit in a compromising hospital waiting room.
2. If the patient travels back to the hospital for the shot, they may be further exposed to COVID-19 and could then spread the virus to their family members.
3. An immune-compromised patient with lower income may opt not to come back for this life-saving medication if they can’t afford the additional cost of transportation back to the hospital.
4. The immune-compromised patient may have to pay for the drug out of pocket, since it will be administered at home.
5. Lastly, the immune-compromised cancer patient may have co-morbidities, like high blood pressure (40 percent of black women do) and diabetes (1 in 4 black women 55 years and older have it), elevating the risk for getting COVID-19.

At a time when most medical professionals, health-care providers, policy makers, corporations, industry leaders and even the government are working diligently to keep people safe, it is shocking to think a company as large as Blue Cross Blue Shield would put patients at risk in this unnecessary manner. If the issue is to reap a cost savings, it seems counter-intuitive, as it  would be more costly if and when patients are exposed to and contract COVID, get hospitalized, are subsequently put on ventilators and use a lot more resources. And how about considering those that will die as a result of this decision—both patients and exposed family members?

“The early population data already shows that up to 50 percent of cancer patients and survivors have had some impact to their health care due to the coronavirus. They are struggling with changes in their treatment, financial woes, including loss of wages and health insurance, compounded by fears about interruptions in continuity of the life-saving care they need, making it a moral imperative that we not sit by idly and allow cancer treatment to be placed on the back burner,” said Monique Gary, M.D., a breast surgical oncologist and health disparities advocate. “The novel coronavirus has had a major and disproportionate impact on African Americans, especially any compromised immunity during this pandemic increases the risk for mortality in this vulnerable population. We need every resource in our armamentarium available for our patients.”

The mortality rate for breast cancer in black women in North Carolina is 43 percent higher than in white women. More than 200,000 black women in that state get breast cancer each year. With this new ruling in place, the mortality rate will escalate. Is that what you want to have happen Blue Cross Blue Shield? Is North Carolina your starting point to going nationwide with this? And to the health professionals in North Carolina, are you just going to do nothing and let this happen? Does black health really matter? Do black lives really matter?

Apparently not in North Carolina.

“We live in an unprecedented time in the history of our country where it is evident that the color of people’s skin affects health outcomes,” said Maimah Karmo, founder, president and CEO of Tigerlily Foundation. “Outdated systems and systemic change must be made in order to prioritize how black women’s lives are being impacted. Blue Cross Blue Shield is in a position to join other leaders in ensuring their policies promote health equity for a population most adversely affected.”

On my path to live my purpose to eradicate #BlackBreastCancer, I will continue to look at all practices and policies that impact our health. I encourage all to do the same. Unfortunately, where you live still impacts whether you live. If you live in North Carolina and have breast cancer, make sure you get health insurance that will cover all of your needs. If you live in North Carolina and don’t have breast cancer, check your policy just in case. Don’t put yourself in an at-risk position.

I live in Maryland and pay an exorbitant $860 a month for CareFirst (Blue Cross Blue Shield) health insurance. For the record, I did check my policy to see if this ruling will impact me. As a black woman, I do have a 39 percent chance of recurrence. When I called CareFirst to ask about my coverage, I was told that with a special request from my oncologist and approval from the CareFirst Specialty Team, I “should be” covered for Neulasta Onpro should I need chemotherapy again. That doesn’t sound convincing, but it’s not unexpected that we will always have to advocate for ourselves for the best treatment. I do have great concern for my breasties in North Carolina and pray that Blue Cross Blue Shield reverses this life-threatening decision and does not implement this policy in other states.

—Ricki Fairley

The post Do Black Lives Really Matter to Blue Cross Blue Shield in North Carolina? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

A triple negative breast cancer diagnosis is devastating. To date, there have been no TNBC-specific treatment options and it is the only breast cancer sub-type that does not have a drug to prevent recurrence. According to the only national study conducted for TNBC and black women, African American women have 2.3 times higher odds of being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Among women diagnosed with breast cancer, those diagnosed at late stages were 69 percent more likely to have triple-negative.  

Metastatic (stage 4) triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive cancer with one of the poorest prognoses due to a lack of existing treatment options. The five-year survival rate is less than 30 percent. I have too often seen the debilitating impact on the quality of life for my breasties (the name I call my breast cancer sisters) with late-stage cancer who have had an extensive treatment history.

Well, someone at Immunomedics must have heard me whining and went to work to find a solution, and I am thankful that I am blessed to be here to see this day.

Trodelvy from Immunomedics is here! This new drug will give the precious gift of time to my metastatic TNBC sisters. I have been an ambassador for the Immunomedics Live Humanly Campaign, a social media platform for cancer warriors and survivors. I’ve been blessed to meet several breasties who participated in the clinical trial research and watched them go from struggling with their disease to thriving and living their best lives. I watched Trodelvy give them light and hope and the most precious gift of time.

Trodelvy is the first FDA-approved ADC treatment option for patients with mTNBC who have received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. This new treatment option brings hope to our mTNBC  breasties and their loved ones. Trodelvy allows our warriors to maintain a consistent treatment regimen for a longer period of time, with relatively manageable tolerability, giving them a good quality of life.

“The triple negative breast cancer community is encouraged by the launch of Trodelvy,” said Hayley Dinerman, co-founder and executive director of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. “Time and hope are precious gifts for our metastatic warriors.”

Remarkably, 7.4 percent of the Trodelvy clinical trial participants were African American women. This may not sound like a lot, but since 2015, the breast cancer drugs approved by the FDA have had a paltry 2.5 percent black participation. This participation level is unsurpassed and speaks volumes of Immunomedics and their commitment to addressing the specific needs of breast cancer in black women.

“As a TNBC patient, it was overwhelming to be diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer with no targeted treatment,” said Maimah Karmo, president and founder of the Tigerlily Foundation. “For 14 years, as a patient advocate and leader, I’ve been committed to helping patients get the right treatments when they need it, and, until now, we have had no treatment for TNBC MBC patients. Thanks to Immunomedics, we now have Trodelvy, which will make a difference in many lives. We are thrilled for the many patients who now have hope and a new treatment option.”

Immunomedics is a change agent and Trodelvy is a game changer. As a very blessed TNBC survivor, I embrace my responsibility to stand up and fight like a girl for my warrior sisters. Let this be a message to our TNBC community that many prayers have been answered! Help me spread the word that Trodelvy is readily available and will give my TNBC breasties the opportunity to live their best lives. Ask your doctor, breasties, and get more information at Trodelvy.com.

—Ricki Fairley

The post It’s a New Day for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Breasties appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What started as a gala in 2010 has evolved into a Sunday brunch and much to its founder’s delight, will go out with a bang in this, its final year, by reverting to its original form: a showy, celebratory shindig complete with corporate vendors, food, libations and celebrity guests. Once Chocolate for a Cure concludes, Bullet plans to shift her focus in a different direction. 

Back in 2010, Bullett, a Martinsburg, West Virginia, native involuntarily took on the breast cancer cause when she received the news that she had the disease, despite having no family history or outstanding risk factors. It was a challenging time for Bullett, who was also going through a divorce. “I knew I had to fight,” she said of when she was unexpectedly diagnosed at age 40. 

Roughly 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year, according to the American Cancer Society, and Bullet is doing what she can to decrease that number with each and every event she hosts. 

“We select three women each year to receive a free mammogram,” she said, which provides a tangible tool to help women in the battle against the invasive disease. 

Bullett counts herself as fortunate in her battle. While she did have a mastectomy on her right breast, she was able to avoid chemotherapy and the prescription drug Tamoxifen has allowed her to avoid a recurrence, a protocol that has worked for her for more than a decade. When it comes to clinical trials although she was not offered the opportunity to participate, she believes in them wholeheartedly. “More black women should be [willing to be part of clinical research] and need to participate in them,” she said. “I would have if I’d had the opportunity.”

The reason Bullett wasn’t given the chance is likely shrouded in passive discrimination. Black people are less likely to participate in clinical trials because of a general distrust of health-care professionals and the cultural legacy of the decades long Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, among other reasons. 

Despite the historically low numbers of black people participating in clinical trials in general, however, there’s good news on the horizon. Researchers at Indiana School of Medicine have launched a study led by Dr. Bryan P. Schneider, which studies the connection between chemotherapy and a type of nerve damage called neuropathy, which disproportionately affects black women. This is a step in the right direction. According to Schneider, the goal of this trial is “to figure out which chemotherapy would be the best for African American women who are undergoing treatment for their breast cancer.” 

Schneider acknowledged that black women are historically underrepresented in research, and he appears committed to addressing the disparity. The commitment of medical professionals like Schneider, along with the grassroots efforts of those directly affected by such a pervasive disease, just may be the one-two punch needed to make breast cancer a thing of the past. 

—Tamar Leak Suber

The post A Breast Cancer Victor, Not a Victim appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Why is this happening? Why are so many black women dying of breast cancer? One key reason is that we don’t have therapies effective for our physiology. That is because African American participation in clinical research is extremely insufficient. Black women are reluctant to engage in clinical trials and may refuse treatment as a result of our own race-related biases and lack of trust in medical professionals. According to the FDA in eight recent clinical trials involving five drugs approved for breast cancer, just 2.5 percent of clinical trial participants were black.

“We need to look at these statistics and sound the alarm,” said Regina Hampton, M.D., president of Doctors Community Hospital, and co-founder and chief medical officer for Breast Care for Washington, D.C. “Black women need access, trials and answers to figure out why there is not more progress in breast cancer statistics. We need to find innovative ways to make clinical trials available to this community that has deep mistrust in research.”

I am on a personal mission to increase participation in clinical trials. Join me by checking out Ciitizen, an amazing new patient-focused platform to gather, digitize, organize and control your health records and provide an actionable health profile easily sharable with doctors and researchers conducting research that could save your life. 

Ciitizen digitizes and stores your information. It is safely protected in accordance with HIPAA laws and always in your control. If a trial is appropriate, you will be notified and asked if you are interested. If you want to pursue it, the researcher will have instant access to your digital file, which will expedite the process and get you closer to the life-saving medications and therapies that could help you.

“There is nothing more painful to see than a loved one afflicted with cancer,” said Anil Sethi, Ciitizen’s founder and CEO, who started the company following the loss of his younger sister to metastatic breast cancer. “Ciitizen was founded to help patients and their loved ones control their data—something we believe unlocks better care and access to therapies.” Sethi is focusing the company’s efforts on breast cancer, so you’ll need to have your records to be on top of the latest breast cancer research opportunities.

I know you may have fear about getting the “placebo” drug, but all that means is you may get standard of care and not the trial drug. It’s what you would have taken anyway. There is no downside to participating in clinical research. Plus, you get great quality of care and more attention from your health professionals. 

Ciitizen is so committed to helping people that their service is free. They built a website for me to sign people up, and they are paying $10 for each person I sign up to my non-profit organization of choice, which is Sisters Network Inc., the only national African American breast cancer organization. 

I can’t stress enough how important it is to understand the science of breast cancer in black women. Help yourself; help your breasties. Take control of your health records. Give yourself access to medications that could save your life.

—Ricki Fairley

The post Breast Cancer in Black Women Can’t Be Cured Without Clinical Research appeared first on Black Health Matters.

We named our event the Stop The Silence® 5k Walk/Run because of the long-standing history of African Americans not discussing cancer and other life-threatening health concerns. Black women just don’t talk enough about this disease that is killing us at a 42 percent higher rate than white women. A recent study conducted by the Ad Council identified that though 92 percent of black women agree breast health is important, only 25 percent of women have recently discussed it, and a mere 17 percent have taken steps to understand their risk.

We walk with a purpose. Proceeds from our walk fund our Sisters Network Breast Cancer Assistance Program, which provides financial resources for our sisters in treatment. Our walk has raised nearly $1 million in funding to help our sisters.

So why not bring the community together to walk for this important cause?

Karen Eubanks Jackson, Sister Network Inc. founder and CEO, is proud she has been able to gather more than 7,500 people to walk and run and raise money for this cause. “Our walk is a beautiful celebration of life. We bring our community together, bring awareness and education about breast cancer and celebrate survivorship. Our sisters come from across the country with their caregivers, family members and friends to show the community what a real sisterhood is all about,” she said.“Though we can’t solve every problem, we know that our BCAP funding can give at least a little relief to our sisters who have so much on their plate when fighting this disease.”

Walking is such a great form of exercise, and, frankly, our community just doesn’t do enough of it. Walking burns calories, strengthens the heart, helps lower blood sugar, eases joint pain, boosts immune function and energy, improves mood and helps extend life.

“I love seeing the camaraderie and sisterhood at the walk,” said Zelma Watkins, co-founder and vice president of the Central Virginia Affiliate Chapter. “I’ve walked in all except one, and I always feel good about the unity I see among the survivors, their families and the support of many others who come out to support our survivor community and Sisters Network overall. The walk is a perfect example of our Sisters Network creed: ‘In unity there is Strength, in strength there is power, in power there is change.”

People come from near and far to support our walk—some in busloads, many from church groups—and our sister organization partners The Links, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and Alpha Phi Alpha Sorority Incorporated. We have a special tent for where survivors can mingle, hug, share stories, share information and celebrate survivorship. We know the healing power of sisterhood is invaluable.

So join us! Walk with us at Discovery Green in Houston or host a walk in your own neighborhood. Get some exercise, strut your stuff and dance with us in your pink tutus. Houston’s own Madison High School Band, drill team and cheerleaders will lead us in a phenomenal day of festivities, fun and sisterhood.

We could not do this without the help of our sponsors. Sincere thanks go out to Eisai, Amgen, Comerica Bank, MD Anderson Cancer Center, HEB, D-Mars.com, Fox 26, Bristol Myers Squibb and Immunomedics.

—Ricki Fairley

The post Sisters Network Inc. Is Walking to Stop the Silence appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Black women younger than 35 get breast cancer at twice the rate and die at three times the rate. We get triple-negative breast cancer at twice the rate, have poorer outcomes and there’s no therapy to prevent recurrence. And our clinical trial participation is minimal, thereby we don’t have therapies that are effective for our physiology.

Their reaction was, “Wow, Ricki! We are working hard every day to develop cancer therapies, but what can we do?”  

Here’s something you can do: How about adopting the HIV model? Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Gilead and Viiv (formerly Glasgow Smith Kline) and other pharma took on HIV as a mission. Though there is still no cure, people living with HIV are thriving and living long lives. HIV is no longer a death sentence because of pharmaceutical efforts. Approximately 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV today.

So I am challenging my pharmaceutical partners to start a movement! Take on black breast cancer as a specific disease state, not just breast cancer, but black breast cancer. 

There are approximately 2.8 million black women with breast cancer in this country. Let’s focus research efforts on black women specifically to comprehend our physiology clearly. Make the commitment to understanding what makes breast cancer different for black women. I am not a scientist, and I know that I may be oversimplifying a very complicated illness, but my grandmother always told me, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”  

So pharmaceutical companies, are you up to the challenge? Are you willing to tackle all aspects of this disease state relative to black women? 

What makes black breast cancer a different disease? Let me break some real issues for you about what differentiates black breast cancer from breast cancers in other women: 

Black women are stressed out. Let’s understand fully the impact of stress from the social determinants of health, stress from being the main breadwinners for our families, stress from being single moms (77.3 percent of black moms are going it alone), stress from our Superwoman, save the world, take care of everyone psyche.“Stress has a profound impact on how your body’s systems function … stress makes your body more hospitable to cancer,” said Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor of general oncology and behavioral science and director of the Integrative Medicine Program at MD Anderson, 

“Chronic stress also can help cancer grow and spread in a number of ways,” says Anil K. Sood, M.D., professor of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at MD Anderson.  A report published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research by scientists from the University of Rochester Medical Center and Stanford University School of Medicine, identified that “extended periods of stress and trauma … may interfere with the body’s ability to fight off cancer progression … and potentially make the body more susceptible to recurrence of cancer.”

Let’s look at genetics, genomics and biomarkers. What role do they play in black breast cancer? In my personal experience as a triple negative breast cancer survivor, I don’t have any known genetic mutations, but is there something there that hasn’t been looked at, evaluated and a labeled yet? Is there some science we are missing with this testing, because we frankly don’t have enough data on black women? A recent survey conducted by Sisters Network Inc. identified that among African American survivors, there is a huge knowledge gap around genomic testing, and it is not being readily offered to black women by their health professionals.

• 61 percent had never heard of genomic testing.
• 83 percent were not offered genomic testing by their health professional.
• Those who were offered genomic testing (17 percent) did get the testing done.
• For perspective, 70 percent were offered genetic testing by their health professional. Seventy-six percent  had genetic testing done, demonstrating that 6 percent sought out the testing themselves despite it not being offered by their physician. Of those tested, 11 percent have a breast cancer gene.

Let’s research obesity and its potential causal factors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 82 percent of black women are overweight or obese. What role does diet and exercise play, and not just any diet, a black woman’s diet and level of exercise?

Let’s look at life stage and age. What’s going on the lives and bodies of black women younger than age 35 that would make them more susceptible to breast cancer?

Let’s study the quality of care for black women. Relative to breast cancer incidence, treatment and mortality is inferior. Where are the disconnects? Where are we failing black women? The National Academy of Medicine released a report documenting that “racial and ethnic minorities receive lower-quality health care than white people, even when insurance status, income, age and severity of conditions are comparable.” It concluded by describing an “uncomfortable reality”: “Some people in the United States were more likely to die from cancer, heart disease and diabetes simply because of their race or ethnicity, not just because they lack access to health care.”

Let’s understand the real factors that drive us to being diagnosed at later stages. According to the American Cancer Society, only 54 percent of breast cancers in black women are diagnosed at a local stage, compared to 64 percent in white women.

Triple-negative breast cancer remains a force to be reckoned with for us. Black women have 2.3 times higher odds of being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Among women who were diagnosed with breast cancer, those diagnosed at late stages were 69 percent more likely to have triple-negative cancer than other types. Why are our incidence and mortality numbers so high? 

African American participation in clinical trials is extremely insufficient. We are reluctant to engage in clinical trials and may refuse treatment as a result of our own race-related experiences. According to U.S. Census data, African Americans represent 13.4 percent of the U.S. population, yet the FDA reports this population makes up only 5 percent of clinical trial participants.

Let’s get real about the actual science of developing and testing drugs for black breast cancer look like Instead of letting the tail wag the dog, with black women being a small percentage of clinical trial research, make the research about black women. Conduct studies with just black women.  

According to Farid Vij, vice president of Corporate Development for Ciitizen (whose mission is to provide patients with control of their comprehensive health information), “Data is what will determine which patients are eligible for which trials, and data will be the driving force behind any research for new drugs and therapeutics. This is how we move the needle. Research for patients, by patients.”  

Let’s change the vocabulary for clinical trials so black women feel like research is safe and can be trusted. Frankly the words “clinical trials” are disturbing. The word “clinical” sounds like mice in a petrie dish, and the word “trials” sounds like failure. Most black women I talk to believe “placebo” means “I’m going to get the drug that doesn’t work.” They don’t understand the basics of what a clinical trial is and how they work, so they have minimal knowledge of what standard of care is.

Black women should not be dying of breast cancer at the levels we are. The industry needs to hunker down and focus specifically on black breast cancer. It is obviously a disease state unto itself, and we are now demanding attention.

Karen Eubanks Jackson, founder and CEO of Sisters Network^® Inc., says, “In our 25 years of fighting this fight, I have never seen enough focus given to black women and breast cancer. We fight a different fight that deserves committed research that matches the devastation we face.”

My awesome physician and sister friend, Regina Hampton, M.D., president of Doctors Community Hospital and co-founder and chief medical officer for Breast Care for Washington, D.C., says, “We need to look at these statistics and sound the alarm. Black women need access, trials and answers to figure out why there is not more progress in breast cancer statistics. We need to find innovative ways to make clinical trials available to this community that has deep mistrust in research.”

Pharma, are you with us? Are you willing to step up to this challenge? What’s stopping you from joining us in this movement to take on black breast cancer?

Let’s save some lives!

—Ricki Fairley

The post Wake Up, Pharma! Let’s Save Some Lives! appeared first on Black Health Matters.

That’s understandable. But breast lumps are common, and most often they’re noncancerous (benign), particularly in younger women. Still, it’s important to have any breast lump evaluated by a doctor, especially if it’s new, feels different from your other breast or feels different from what you’ve felt before.

Breasts contain tissues of varying consistency, including fatty, glandular and connective tissue. You might find that breast-related symptoms, such as tenderness or lumpiness, change with your menstrual cycle. Lumps during this time might be caused by extra fluid in your breasts. Breast tissue also changes as you age, typically becoming fattier and less dense.

Being familiar with how your breasts normally feel makes it easier to detect when there’s a change in your breasts.

Consult your doctor if:

• You find a new breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
• You notice a change in the size, shape or appearance of your breast
• Breast pain doesn’t go away after your next period
• You notice skin changes on your breast, such as itchiness, redness, scaling, dimpling or puckering
• You have a newly inverted nipple
• You notice spontaneous nipple discharge

What to expect during a clinical breast exam

Evaluation of a breast lump typically begins with a clinical breast exam. During this exam, your doctor will likely:

• Ask about symptoms and your risk factors for breast cancer or benign breast conditions
• Examine your breasts and lymph nodes in your armpit, feeling for any lumps or other abnormalities
• Examine the skin on your breasts
• Check for nipple problems, such as inversion or discharge

If your doctor confirms that you have a breast lump or other area of concern, you’ll likely need testing.

Procedures to evaluate a breast lump

Imaging tests. To further evaluate a breast lump, your doctor might recommend a:

• Diagnostic mammogram. This specialized breast X-ray helps your doctor investigate suspicious breast changes. It takes X-ray pictures from several angles.
• Breast ultrasound. Sound waves create images of the inside of your breast on a monitor. Ultrasound imaging is helpful for determining whether a breast lump is solid or filled with fluid.
• Breast MRI. An MRI machine uses a magnet and radio waves to create pictures of the interior of your breast. A breast MRI usually is reserved for when the diagnosis is in question. Before a breast MRI, a dye might be injected through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm to enhance the appearance of tissues or blood vessels on the MRI pictures.

Breast biopsy. You might have a tissue sample removed and examined under a microscope (biopsy). Ultrasound or mammography might help guide the needle, and a local anesthetic might be used. Breast biopsy options include:

• Fine-needle aspiration biopsy. With a thin needle attached to a syringe, cells and fluid are removed from the suspicious area.
• Core needle biopsy. A larger needle with a special tip is used to remove a sample of breast tissue.
• Stereotactic biopsy. Mammography produces images of the area in question from several different angles (stereo images). Your doctor then removes a sample of breast tissue with a needle.
• Vacuum-assisted biopsy. A probe connected to a vacuum device removes a small sample of breast tissue.
• Surgical biopsy. A small cut is made in the skin and breast tissue to remove part or all of a lump.

After a biopsy, the tissue sample is sent to a lab for analysis. Your doctor will let you know when to expect the test results and will discuss them with you when they’re available.

Follow-up after breast lump evaluation

If the breast lump isn’t cancerous, your doctor will decide if you need short-term monitoring with clinical breast exams or repeat breast imaging. You may be asked to return in two to three months to see if there have been changes in your breast. Consult your doctor if you notice changes in the lump or develop new areas of concern.

If the diagnosis is in question—the clinical breast exam and the mammogram show areas of suspicion, for example, but the biopsy reveals benign tissue—you’ll be referred to a surgeon or other specialist for further consultation.

If the breast lump is cancerous, you’ll work with your doctor to create a treatment plan. The stage and type of breast cancer will influence your treatment options.

The post What Should You Do If You Find a Breast Lump? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is any treatment using the immune system to fight disease, including cancer. Immunotherapy acts on the cells of the immune system to help them attack cancer.

What are the types of immunotherapy?

The most widely used form of immunotherapy for cancer is called checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs, given intravenously, block a mechanism cancer cells use to shut down the immune system. This frees killer T-cells to attack a tumor. The Food and Drug Administration has approved four checkpoint inhibitors.

Cell therapy, another form of immunotherapy, involves removing immune cells from a patient, altering those cells genetically to help them fight cancer, multiplying them in the lab and dripping them, like a transfusion, back into the patient. This type of treatment, developed individually for each patient, is still experimental and available through clinical trials only.

Bispecific antibodies, an alternative to cell therapy, don’t not require individualized treatment for each patient. These antibodies are proteins that can attach to both a cancer cell and a T-cell, bringing them close together so the T-cell can attack the cancer.

Researchers haven’t had as much success with vaccines, another form of immunotherapy. Unlike childhood vaccines, which are used to keep a patient from developing childhood illnesses like measles, mumps or whooping cough, cancer vaccines are designed to attack the disease once a person has it. Researchers hope to someday combine vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors.

Which cancers are treated with immunotherapy?

Checkpoint inhibitors are used to treat advanced melanoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and cancers of the lung, kidney and bladder. Cell therapy has been used mostly for blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. “Early research with immunotherapy and breast cancer is lagging behind other cancers,” Dr. Puhalla said. “One option is to give immunotherapy for triple negative [breast cancer] in addition to chemotherapy. This is very promising for our patients who have triple negative.”

Does immunotherapy work?

Doctors have had remarkable success with immunotherapy in some cases, but it still works in only a minority of patients. About 20 percent to 40 percent of patients are helped by checkpoint inhibitors, though there have been cases where combining two checkpoint inhibitors increased the effectiveness. Cell therapy can produce complete remissions in 25 percent to 90 percent of patients with lymphoma or leukemia. In some cases, patients have gone into remission for for years; in others relapses occurred within a year.

Are there side effects?

Checkpoint inhibitors can cause lung inflammation, diarrhea or rheumatoid arthritis. Cell therapy can also lead to severe reactions resulting from the overstimulation of the immune system.

How much does immunotherapy cost?

Checkpoint inhibitors can cost $150,000 a year and are covered by most insurance companies if the drug has been approved for the type of cancer the patient has. Co-payments may be high, though. Because cell therapy hasn’t yet received FDA approval, the cost isn’t yet known. Experts expect them to cast a few hundred thousand dollars. Patients in clinical trials for checkpoint inhibitors and cell therapy may be able to get the treatments for free.

For more information about immunotherapy clinical trials, go to ClinicalTrials.gov.

The post Immunotherapy 101 appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Basil. Steeped as a tea, this herb is packed with cortisol-reducing compounds that can calm your mind, or eat it and watch its high iron levels increase your energy levels. When applied topically, it has anti-aging properties and can prevent several skin conditions. Alleviate inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, by eating it regularly.

Chives. Boost your brain health and your eyesight, while lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Make your immune system stronger, while making your digestive system happier.

Dill. A tablespoon of seeds contains more calcium than one-third cup of milk. Seeds and leaves can replace your mouthwash as a breath freshener, as well as calm both your brain and your body. Steep the mashed seeds into a gut-benefiting tea.

Oregano. This herb contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which boost heart health, and compounds though to prevent breast cancer. Brew it into tea to promote healthy liver function, or apply it topically as an anti-bacterial.

Parsley. Steep the roots into a tea and help reduce fluid retention. High concentrations of calcium in parsley can help prevent osteoporosis.

Peppermint. When brewed into a tea, peppermint can unclog nasal congestion and reduce nausea. It is also known to ease indigestion and, applied topically, to control acne and lessen pain.

Rosemary. Brew it into a tea to freshen breath. Smell the oil in aromatherapy and increase memory or reduce migraine symptoms.

Sage. Used in aromatherapy, sage can aid in focus. With powerful anti-inflammatory properties, sage tea can ease arthritis and psoriasis, as well as soothe a sore throat.

Thyme. This herb contains a wealth of vitamins that promote eye health, relaxation and a healthier immune system. The high levels of potassium and iron contribute to a healthier heart when part of your regular diet.

The post Don’t Sleep on the Health Properties of Herbs appeared first on Black Health Matters.

“Health isn’t something that exists in a vacuum,” Hess said. “It’s connected to economic security, access to affordable health care, housing quality, access to healthy food and racism.”

To change the course of these trends, policymakers have to address the root causes of illnesses that strike about half the United States population. The top six highlighted in IWPR’s report:

1. Less than 50 percent of women in this country exercise regularly. Women in Colorado and Vermont report being the most active, with 59 percent reporting at least 150 minutes of exercise each week. Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee bring up the rear, with less than a third of the female population in all three states getting some sort of workout in on a regular basis. This fact is occurring simultaneous to obesity remaining a growing concern for U.S. women: Nearly six in 10 women are overweight, or have a body mass index of 25 or greater.

2. More women are being diagnosed with diabetes, especially black and Native American women. According to the National Institutes of Health, 10 percent of women in this country have the disease, which increases the risk of stroke, heart disease and blindness. One study found biological risk factors—including weight and fat around the abdomen—are leading contributors for higher rates of diabetes for black Americans.

3. Mental health is worsening across the country. Women reported feeling more distressed everywhere except New Mexico, Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The median number of days per month women reported experiencing poor mental health—anxiety, depression, stress—increased about 11 percent over the last half-decade.

4. Chlamydia is on the rise. The incidence of the U.S.’s most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection has surged among American women of all ages over the last decade. (Men also saw a major increase, though but rate among them remains lower.) Medical professionals say this infection is easily spread because it often causes no symptoms and may be unknowingly passed between sexual partners. In fact, about 75 percent of infections in women and 50 percent in men don’t have symptoms. While every state saw their chlamydia rates among women increase over the last decade, the largest growth occurred in North Dakota, Massachusetts and Arkansas.

5.  More American women are killing themselves. Suicide rates are rising across the country, with rates up 30 percent since 1999. But the suicide rate among women in this country has jumped an alarming 50 percent since 1999, outpacing male suicides by nearly 30 percent. No one knows why this disturbing trend is taking place, though experts believe it’s likely a combination of reasons: 1) federal funding for mental health care has decreased; 2) stigma around seeking help for mental health issues discourage folks from getting care; 3) financial worries have increased; and 4) stress levels have also risen. Rates varied by ethnicity, with white and Native American women being most likely to commit suicide.

6. Black women are nearly 30 times more likely to have AIDS as an Asian woman. Incidence rates of AIDS for black women—28 per 100,000—are nearly six times higher than the rate for all women. That’s almost 30 times higher than among Asian women and about 20 times higher than white women. The lone bright spot in this scary health trend: Black women are the most likely to get tested for HIV. Sixty percent have been tested compared with only 30 percent of Asian and white women.

The post 6 Scary Health Trends for Women appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It’s a common belief that if cancer doesn’t run in your family, it’s unlikely you’ll receive a cancer diagnosis. But this is a myth.

According to the National Cancer Institute, only 5 percent to 10 percent of cancers are hereditary. That means about 90 percent of cancers are caused by other factors.

A significant proportion of that 90 percent comes from habits you do or don’t do. In fact, the American Cancer Society says we cause more than 40 percent of these cases of cancer.

Several factors that increase the risk of cancer are out of our control:

• Age. The incidence of cancer rises as you age. About 52 percent of the cases are diagnosed in people between the ages of 55 and 74. Cancer in folks younger than age of 34 is relatively uncommon by comparison.
• Environment. You have to breathe, and you have no say over burning fossil fuels or other air pollutants.
• Race and gender. You can’t influence your race or your gender. For instance, African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with—and to die from—pancreatic cancer than folks of other races. Black men, for reasons still not fully understood, suffer the highest incidence of prostate cancer. Black women are more likely to contract aggressive and deadly forms of breast cancer.

Some factors, however, you can control, some behaviors you can change–meaning some tweaks can help prevent cancer. The problem is that too many of us see genetically modified foods, hormones in beef, stress and other myths and falsehoods as the major culprits behind cancer. But every two years the American Institute for Cancer Research publishes its Cancer Risk Awareness Survey, and the results show while 93 percent of respondents know tobacco increases cancer risk, less than 40 percent attributed cancer to alcohol, processed and red meats, diet, and inactivity.

Smoking. The largest controllable factor contributing to cancer is tobacco. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths, accounting for about 1,300 deaths every day in this country. Smokers don’t suffer alone; more than 41,000 deaths each year are the result of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Most of us know smoking is related to cancers of the lung, mouth and throat, but tobacco is an equal opportunity offender, affecting nearly every organ in the body. “This is one of the most potent ways of delivering a toxic substance,” said Christopher Lathan, who specializes in lung cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

This is no surprise, since tobacco smoke contains 250 harmful chemicals, at least 69 of which can cause cancer, according to the NCI. Switching to cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco isn’t any safer. All tobacco use is linked to some form of cancer.

So why do people still smoke? It’s addictive, and nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to give up. Still, quitting is the best option. “The single best thing you can do is stop smoking,” Lathan said. “Over time the risk decreases.”

It may take more than 10 attempts to quit, so don’t be shy about seeking help. For assistance and advice on quitting smoking:

• Smokers’ Helpline: 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
• National Cancer Institute’s Smoking Quitline: 877-448-7848
• American Cancer Society’s Quit for Life: 800-227-2345
• Smokefree

Obesity. The second most significant risk factor of cancer is obesity, according to the AICR. It accounts for nearly 7 percent of all cancer deaths. That is especially concerning since the prevalence of obesity in this country keeps growing, standing around 40 percent right now, and it is more common in black folks.

Fat might be thought of as just unwanted extra pounds, but actually it is linked to 13 different cancers. Why? Fat produces estrogen, which in excess can increase the risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers, especially in post-menopausal women.

Alcohol. What’s the harm in having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer while watching the game? That depends on how many you have. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says limit alcoholic drinks to one drink a day for women and two for men. How much is a drink? It’s probably much less than you think: 12 ounces of beer; 5 ounces of wine; and 1.5 ounces, or a shot, of 80-proof liquor, such as scotch.

But a glass of wine holds 22 ounces, and a stein of beer 44 ounces. So your nightly glass of wine or beer with the fellas is actually four servings. It’s the amount of alcohol, not the type of alcoholic drink, that increases risk. Excessive alcohol, especially in tandem with smoking, is linked mostly to cancers of the head, neck and esophagus, but also can lead to cancers of the breast, colon and liver.

Diet and inactivity. About 5 percent of preventable causes of cancer are attributed to a sedentary lifestyle, especially for women, and poor diet. You don’t need to train for a marathon to reap cancer prevention benefits. Thirty minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity—think: walking—is enough. Marry that movement with a healthy diet of fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes and nuts, and you’ll make significant headway toward preventing cancer. Nutritionists suggest limiting red meat to 12 ounces a week, while avoiding processed meats, such as bacon and ham, almost entirely. Both are linked to colon cancer.

Infectious disease. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the most common sexually transmitted virus. A CDC report found that almost half of all sexually active men and women in this country will contract the sexually transmitted infection at some point in their lives. Our immune systems kill most cases of it, but when HPV persists, it can result in cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, throat and anus. Fortunately, the FDA-approved HPV vaccination can prevent most infections. Gardasil 9 has been approved for females and males between the ages of nine and 45.

Skin cancer. We tend to think skin cancer isn’t an issue for us, but research shows survival rates of melanoma, the more deadly form of skin cancer, are lower in black folks. That means everybody, including us, should use sunscreen, avoid the sun when it’s at its strongest, and wear protective clothing and sunglasses when outdoors. Year-’round, folks. And check unusual moles or changes in your skin annually.

Screenings. Detecting cancers in the early stage when treatment is more successful can be a simple as getting screened. Even better: Tests for cervical and colon cancer often find pre-cancerous changes in cells before they have the chance to transition into cancer, making this an easy method to prevent cancer.

All of these steps taken together can do a lot to help keep you cancer free. Even if you can change only one of these behaviors, you are on the right path. “Prevention decreases risk,” Lathan said.

The post Prevent Cancer appeared first on Black Health Matters.

It’s this excess body fat that Iyengar is studying. At a recent conference, he presented his research that postmenopausal women with a normal BMI had an increased risk of invasive breast cancer if they had higher levels of body fat. The investigators looked at 3,460 participants in the Women’s Health Initiative, an observational study that follows postmenopausal women between 50 and 79 years of age.

The women in the study had a normal BMI (18.5 and 24.9) with no history of breast cancer. Their body fat was measured by an x-ray technique known as DXA. The American Council on Exercise says 25 percent to 31 percent body fat is an acceptable range for most women. During roughly 16 years of follow-up in the study, 80 percent of the women who developed invasive breast cancer were diagnosed with a specific type of breast cancer called estrogen receptor-positive. This diagnosis is significant because many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen. In postmenopausal women, fat tissue is the main source of estrogen synthesis.

The researchers found women with the highest body fat were twice as likely to develop ER-positive breast cancer as those in the lowest fat group. The team noted the risk increased by 35 percent for each 11 pounds in total body fat, even when study participants’ BMI remained with the acceptable range.

“Our findings show the risk of invasive breast cancer is increased in postmenopausal women with normal BMI and higher levels of body fat, meaning a large proportion of the population has an unrecognized risk of developing cancer,” Iyengar told the American Association for Cancer Research. He cautioned that the findings of this study apply to postmenopausal women only.

Another major takeaway of the study is that the level of physical activity was lower in women with higher amounts of fat. This underscores the value of healthy eating and exercise even in people who are not overweight or obese.

The BMI is still the standard method to assess the correlation between body weight and the risk for a number of illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. For postmenopausal women a body fat assessment may prove to be an additional prevention strategy.

The post BMI Is Only Part of the Story appeared first on Black Health Matters.

​We believe when people are empowered patients who act as experts in their own health care, they better meet their wellness goals. Studies show being proactive about one’s own health not only results in better health care; it also strengthens the body’s natural self-repair mechanisms and helps fend off illness. ​

Through health education and engagement programs, Black Health Matters, the leading syndicator of original content on African American health, is committed to teaching African Americans how to take control of their health into their own hands. ​

We’re launching ProActive Health for African Americans with the 4th Black Health Matters Summit because we are uniquely qualified to do so. 

The 4th Black Health Matters Summit will showcase world-class health leaders who engage with the community in intimate roundtables and workshops on the latest trends and innovation in African American health. Topics include breast cancer, clinical trials, colon cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hereditary hATTR amyloidosis, HIV, lung cancer, mental health, prostate cancer, sickle cell disease and more. Registrants can also take advantage of free health screenings.

The post ProActive Health: 4th Black Health Matters Summit appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Using data from 46,709 women in the Sister Study, researchers at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of NIH, found women who regularly used permanent hair dye in the year prior to enrolling in the study were 9 percent more likely than women who didn’t use hair dye to develop breast cancer. Among African American women, using permanent dyes every five to eight weeks or more was associated with a 60 percent increased risk of breast cancer as compared with an 8 percent increased risk for white women. The research team found little to no increase in breast cancer risk for semi-permanent or temporary dye use.

“Researchers have been studying the possible link between hair dye and cancer for a long time, but results have been inconsistent,” said corresponding author Alexandra White, head of the NIEHS Environment and Cancer Epidemiology Group. “In our study, we see a higher breast cancer risk associated with hair dye use, and the effect is stronger in African American women, particularly those who are frequent users. ”

An intriguing finding was the association between the use of chemical hair straighteners and breast cancer. White and colleagues found women who used hair straighteners at least every five to eight weeks were about 30 percent more likely to develop breast cancer. While the association between straightener use and breast cancer was similar in African American and white women, straightener use was much more common among African American women.

Co-author Dale Sandler, chief of the NIEHS Epidemiology Branch, cautioned that although there is some prior evidence to support the association with chemical straighteners, these results need to be replicated in other studies.

When asked if women should stop dyeing or straightening their hair, Sandler said, “We are exposed to many things that could potentially contribute to breast cancer, and it is unlikely that any single factor explains a woman’s risk. While it is too early to make a firm recommendation, avoiding these chemicals might be one more thing women can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer.”

The post Can Chemical Straighteners Cause Breast Cancer? appeared first on Black Health Matters.

Everywhere you turn lately it seems you’re told to lead a healthy lifestyle. But what does that really mean?

If you’re thinking, “eat right and exercise,” you’re partly right. Physical activity and the right diet are a big part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Karen Basen-Engquist, director of the Center for Energy Balance in Cancer Prevention and Survivorship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said in an interview.

But it’s more than that. Living healthy includes these six steps:

1. Maintain a healthy weight. What matters about your weight is the amount of body fat you’re carrying. A higher percentage of fat puts you at greater risk for heart disease, diabetes and cancer. What contributes to your weight? Several factors, including diet, activity levels, genetics and age. Here are ways to stay lean:

• Move. Aim for at least two-and-a-half hours of moderate aerobic exercise—or an hour and 15 minutes of strenuous physical activity—each week. Mix it up with strength training at least two days a week.
• Avoid too much sitting. Even if you get in a 30-minute workout before heading to work in the morning, sitting at a desk the rest of the day can pose health risks. Recent research has linked a sedentary lifestyle to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer. Break up your work day by taking a five-minute walk each hour.
• Eat healthy foods. Lots of fruits and vegetables is key to living healthy, so try to fill two-thirds of your plate with produce. You should also limit red meat, skip sugary drinks, avoid processed meats, avoid processed foods and drink lots of water.

2. Get your beauty rest. We can’t live or function well without sleep, and numerous studies show a lack of it leads to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other health problems, including cancer. Most adults should get seven to eight hour of sleep every night. Having trouble sleeping? These good sleep habits can help.

3. Stay away from tobacco. Research shows tobacco use causes 25 percent to 30 percent of cancer deaths. Despite the risks, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says roughly one in five adults still smokes. Here’s what you should know: All tobacco products, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes included, contain cancer-causing chemicals. Using tobacco in any form circumvents a healthy lifestyle. You should also stay away from secondhand smoke. It has been associated with asthma, heart disease and causes lung cancer in non-smokers.

4. Be sun smart. We can’t stress enough the importance of using sunscreen to avoid skin cancer. Still, most people, especially those of us with a little melanin in our skin, skip sunscreen. Even when we do use it, we don’t apply enough, don’t reapply it often enough and forego it completely during the cold months. These are all mistakes. To protect your skin, apply a generous amount of sunscreen on every part of your body exposed to the sun. Reapply it liberally every two hours (more often if you’re sweating or swimming). Avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are most powerful. Wear protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

5. Drink alcohol in moderation. Excess alcohol consumption has been linked to several cancers, including breast cancer and esophageal cancer. If you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do, stick to one drink a day for women or two for men.

6. Get screened. Cancer screening exams, medical tests done when you don’t have any signs of illness, can help detect cancer early, when the chances for successful treatment are greatest. Talk to your doctor about which exams are right for you.

Sound overwhelming? No worries. You don’t have to make all of these changes overnight. Start with just one or two of these healthy habits. Then gradually add the others, and before you know it, you’re living healthy.

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Over 100 studies have been conducted to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk in women. All of them have consistently found an increased risk of breast cancer associated with drinking alcohol.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, for women who have not had breast cancer, just one drink per day (or seven per week), raised the risk for premenopausal breast cancer by 5 percent and postmenopausal breast cancer by 9 percent. If a woman has a family history, these risk numbers could even be higher. “Compared to women who don’t drink at all, women who have three alcoholic drinks per week have a 15 percent higher risk of breast cancer. Experts estimate that the risk of breast cancer goes up another 10 percent for each additional drink women regularly have each day,” according to BreastCancer.org.

A Life After Cancer Epidemiology study found that for breast cancer survivors diagnosed after menopause, those who drank four or more alcoholic beverages per week had a 19 percent recurrence rate compared to non-drinkers. Among survivors who had estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers, those who drank seven or more drinks a week had a 28 percent increased risk of late breast cancer recurrence (five years or more after diagnosis). 

According to research conducted by the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium, African American women who drink seven or more alcoholic beverages per week have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Their risk increases to 33 percent if they drink 14 or more alcoholic beverages each week.

A study conducted by Fred Hutch epidemiologist Christopher Li did not find an association between moderate alcohol drinking after a breast cancer diagnosis and death. However, “one drink a day and your breast cancer risk goes up about 10 percent. Two drinks a day, it goes up 20 percent. Women who imbibe are particularly at risk for estrogen-receptor-positive, or ER+ breast cancer, since studies have shown that alcohol increases the level of estrogen in postmenopausal women.” Li said. “Moderation is very important, but our study supports previous studies in suggesting that the occasional glass of wine does not seem to impact a woman’s risk of dying of breast cancer.”

And for my Pink Sisters living with metastatic breast cancer, we could not find data about drinking alcohol to support a position specifically for these women. This is most likely because there are so many variables to consider.

So why does drinking alcohol have a negative effect? Here’s what we found:

• Alcohol can increase levels of estrogen and other hormones associated with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. Alcohol also may increase breast cancer risk by damaging DNA in cells. 
• Alcohol users are more likely to have increased amounts of folic acid in their systems, which can lead to increased cancer risk.
• Alcohol is empty calories and can lead to unwanted weight gain. Excess fat can lead to increased cancer risk.
• Drinking alcohol may weaken the body’s ability to process and absorb important nutrients, including vitamins A, C, D, and E and folate and carotenoids.

When I bring up this topic among friends, they always respond with, “Isn’t red wine good for you?” Well, the ASCO data says, “Do not make an exception for red wine. There is no clear evidence that drinking red wine helps to prevent cancer. Thus, the current recommended limits also apply to red wine.”

My trusted doc friend, Karen Godette, M.D., medical director of radiation oncology at Emory University Midtown Hospital, said, “The relationship between alcohol and breast cancer is not clearly understood and can be affected by many factors such as nutrition, menopausal status, hormone receptor status and the age that the patient starts drinking. The bottom line is that one drink per day is probably safe, but three drinks per week lowers breast cancer risk even more.  No alcohol is best, but not absolutely necessary.”

So that’s the story. Just remember, the risks are real and breast cancer is no joke for African American women. We are dying at a 42 percent higher rate than white women. As for me, I will continue to be the one saying, “Don’t drink; I love you” to my breasties. You have only one body. Breast cancer should not be a death sentence. Early detection is our best protection.  

And, as always, check the breasts that you love. I know you have a pair!

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