Phyllis H. Allen

Phyllis H. Allen’s passion for assisting women affected by breast cancer comes not only from her own experience with the disease but also from her experiences as a child.

When Phyllis was just 10 years old, her grandmother died of breast cancer. The night she passed away, she had been sent home from the hospital without knowing she was going to die. Just several decades ago, healthcare professionals did not use the "c" word because they did not want to frighten the patient.

Then in January 2002, Phyllis was diagnosed herself. For seven months she received treatment, including a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. Talking to women who had experienced breast cancer helped Phyllis through especially difficult times. And while she was in the hospital, Phyllis supported others who struggled with the diagnosis.

Phyllis is a lawyer by profession, but when she sat down with doctors to discuss her treatment, she found the medical jargon with respect to chemotherapy incomprehensible. Phyllis’s eventual understanding of the complexities around selecting treatment now enables her to provide information and empathy to women struggling with their own diagnosis.

As a volunteer on LBBC’s Survivors’ Helpline, Phyllis is committed to reaching out to African-American women affected by breast cancer. She wants to eliminate the disparity through education about the disease within the African-American community. Through churches and other community organizations she is developing a support network. As she says, "No stone can be left unturned."

Phyllis conducts cultural competency and communication training sessions for graduates in social work, nurses and other healthcare professionals. She also attends conferences for nurses and healthcare professionals as well as local health fairs as an LBBC representative. As a result of her activities on behalf of Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Phyllis was selected as an honoree at the Annual Butterfly Ball in 2007. She is, in her own words, "A true advocate for other women to get information. I want them to know that there are no stupid questions, and not to be afraid of a breast cancer diagnosis." —Alison Klos