Friday, October 1, 2021 - Sunday, October 31, 2021

The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes. Breast cancer is a serious concern for all women, but Black women have different experiences and outcomes with breast cancer compared to White women.

Three facts:

• The breast cancer mortality (death rate) is about 40 percent higher among Black women compared to White women.

• Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with more cancer compared to White women. The tumours of Black patients are also more likely to be larger and to have spread to the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes (glands) at the time of diagnosis.

• The risk for developing breast cancer increases in all women as we get older, but Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at younger ages compared to White women.

Watch out for these products, which are often marketed to black women yet contain some of the most carcinogenic (cancer-causing) ingredients in cosmetics.

• skin lighteners

• hair relaxers

• Brazilian blowout treatments

• acrylic nails

Innovations in research, surgical options and clinical trials give women many more options. With early detection, a woman’s survival rate goes up. Mammograms are the most important way of detecting breast cancer when it is most easily treated. The National Breast Cancer Foundation offers free mammograms.