It’s the most common cancer among African American women. This year, about 5,830 African American women will die from a deadly disease that is second only to lung cancer – breast cancer.

The statistics are alarming. According to the American Cancer Society, about 40,460 women will die from breast cancer this year, causing the death rate among Black women to be 36 percent higher than White women.

Breast cancer develops when cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without the normal control. Most forms of breast cancer, about 85 percent, originate in the mammary ducts with about 15 percent occurring in the lobules.

Gradually, cancerous tumors grow in the breast. When it is large enough to be detected as a lump, it may have been growing for as long as 10 years.

To lower the risks, regular examinations through a mammogram, MRI, clinical and self exam is recommended.

If a lump is felt or an abnormal growth appears on the mammogram, a surgical biopsy, where a cut is made in the breast to remove tissue, or needle biopsy, where tissue or cell samples are removed with a needle, may be performed to determine breast cancer. Most women receiving a biopsy are negative, with one in 10 being diagnosed with the disease. However, breast cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Great strides have been made over the last 20 years to improve survival rates.

Using a combination of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, Herceptin or hormonal therapy, more women are surviving breast cancer. The two most common forms of treatment are breast conserving surgeries and mastectomy, where the entire breast is removed. Reconstruction surgery may be followed to restore the look and feel of the breast.

Emotional support from family, friends, spiritual advisers, breast cancer survivors and health care workers is important to help through the diagnosis, treatment and recovery process.

There is strength in knowing. By educating oneself and others, the fight against breast cancer can be won, increasing the survival rate among Black women – one survivor at a time.
Important Telephone Numbers
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American Cancer Society (800) ACS-2345
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Karmonos Cancer Institute (800) 527-6266
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Susan G. Koman for the Cure hotline (800)I’m Aware (800-462-9273)
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Partnership for Prescription Assistance - Michigan (888)477-2669
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Y-Me Breast Cancer Organization 24/7 support hotline (800) 221-2141
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American Medical Association to find a doctor (800) 621-8335
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Henry Ford Medical Center – Breast Care
(313) 917-4918 or (313)375-2000
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Oakwood Breast Care Center – Dearborn
(800) 543-9355
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Sinai Grace Breast Care Center (313) 966-3835