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The Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer has chosen Black History Month to grow its support group from Phoenix to Peoria.
The Arizona 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to education, outreach and increasing survival rates amongst African-Americans diagnosed with breast cancer, is affiliated with the local Mayo Clinic and provides “high-quality, reliable information” along with support to black breast cancer patients in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Now, with continued efforts underway to educate the black population about breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, screening and resources, the group is expanding into the West Valley with an organizational kick-off meeting from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 9 at Antioch Church of God and Christ, 9600 W. Peoria Avenue in Peoria.
In addition to light refreshments, there will be an opportunity to form life-long friendships and share stories at the inaugural meeting, according to a press release.
“This is so important,” said Angela Allen, a clinical research program director for Banner Health, who is involved with the health-related nonprofit.
“Breast cancer is very prevalent and yet the needs of particular African-American women were not met.”
As the survival for breast cancer in African-American women staggers behind other ethnic groups, local initiatives regarding circumstances Black patients faced pathologically, culturally and physically began in early 2009 with Mayo clinic employees, Dr. Michele Halyard and Marion Kelly.
They discussed the neeed for in-depth information on breast cancer within the Black community encompassing medical differences, tumor biology, cultural issues, and more that contributed to higher mortality rates.
The first outreach, which was an educational program held in October 2009, was attended by 100 people who “agreed that more education and outreach was needed,” according to the group’s website at cbbcaz.org.
The organization has grown since its official start in 2010 as a result of collaborative efforts between the Mayo Clinic, Sigma Pi Phi, Gamma Mu Boule, and The Phoenix Chapter of the Links, Incorporated.
Although Ms. Allen said outreach needs were being met in the east and central areas of the Valley, the organization noticed that many were missing out since they “were just not really able to make it to the other side.”
She invited those who are impacted by cancer to the support groups throughout the Valley to learn about resources, treatment, prevention and more.
“Now, we’re going to establish a second site right off Freeway 101 and Westgate,” Ms. Allen said.
Within the Phoenix Metropolitan area, the CBBC is the only organization that specifically targets black women and men with breast cancer with a goal to provide accurate and current information related to the cancer diagnosis and treatment, or prevention and screening through its website, social channels, monthly meetings, outreach, and educational programming.
While the Phoenix metropolitan-area population is about 3% African American/African descendant, or 300,000 out of four million people, nationwide, one in eight women, plus a minority of men, will be affected by breast cancer.
Within Phoenix, the percentage of women diagnosed with early stages of disease is documented as lower than Caucasian women as the percentage of female breast cancer cases diagnosed as Stage IV (metastatic) is twice as high as other ethnic groups, which is 8 versus 4%, according to the site.
The CBBC is not an exclusionary organization or religiously based. Anyone interested is invited in joining in efforts to support cancer survivors while educating the community on the “realities however about the outcomes of breast cancer in African Americans,” as stated by Dr. Halyard.
“Nationally, as well as in our Phoenix metro community, the survival rates for breast cancer are lower for African Americans than other populations even in early stage patients. Some of this has to do with access to care, but some has to do with cancer biology and a higher prevalence of triple negative breast cancer in African Americans which has a more aggressive course.
Our organization seeks to impart knowledge to the African American community about breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Knowledge is power to improve one’s health,” she stated on the site.
CBBC’s Phoenix metropolitan monthly meetings are held on the third Sunday of each month, 3–5 p.m. at the Cancer Support Community, 360 E. Palm Lane in Phoenix.
For the newest meeting beginning in the West Valley RSVP to: info@cbbcaz.org.
Starting my media career in 1994, rumor had it that newspapers would not exist much longer. Years later, the newspaper is still around and so is my passion for storytelling and capturing life’s moments for the community.
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