By Rhonda Dallas
October has been set aside nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We see the Pink colors in the mall, within organizations and even on The National Foot Ball Field. As a Certified Life Coach and Certified Nutritional Counselor, this month means so much more than just awareness. We’re rolling up our sleeves and getting involved.
A question we must ask ourselves is “How Can I help”? How can I get Involved with organizations? Well, all we have to do is take a look at the statistics within the Afro American Community and our question will be answered. Let me start off by sharing some staggering statistics, a list of organizations we can partner with, and how we can continue the fight for ourselves by Living a Healthier Lifestyle.
Disturbing numbers (Article From The Conversation Journal)
First, some statistics that lay out the extent of the problem. About 1 in 8 American non-Hispanic white women, and about 1 in 9 African-American women will suffer from breast cancer in their lives. While breast cancer is slightly less prevalent in African-American women, it is much more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage in them. About 37 percent of white patients and about 47 percent of black patients will have cancer that has spread from their breast to nearby lymph nodes at diagnosis. When the disease has spread, it typically presents a greater treatment challenge. In fact, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients with distant metastasis, or disease that has traveled to another organ such as the liver or bone, is 26.9 percent, as compared to 98.9 percent for those with a localized disease.
Organizations We Can Partner With to Get Involved:
As you can see, it is likely we know someone affected by Breast Cancer. So how do we get involved? Sister’s Network which is nationally known was founded in 1994. It is a leading voice and the only national African American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States. The organization’s purpose is to save lives and provide a broader scope of knowledge that addresses the breast cancer survivorship crisis affecting African American women around the country. As a nationally recognized organization among leading medical establishments and breast cancer physicians, Sisters Network is also recognized as a critical information resource for African American women. Some other national organizations are Avon and Mary Kay who lead tremendous outreach efforts in combatting Breast Cancer and Awareness campaigns.
Living A Healthier Lifestyle:
Statistics have linked Obesity as a rising cause of Breast Cancer especially in Afro-Americans. If we know better, we can all do better. We need to start with diet and exercise. Adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet and reducing the amount of carbs and sugars can help tremendously in living a healthier lifestyle. Also, just 30 minutes per day of cardio and muscle strengthening can add wonders to our overall health status. Take baby steps by just walking daily and making good food choices.
In closing, we can all lend a helping hand in the fight against Breast Cancer by things like gaining more knowledge, because knowledge is power, joining a group or organization that caters to women with breast cancer challenges or awareness of this deadly disease, and holding ourselves accountable to a healthier diet and exercise.
