Knowledge is power: Understanding Black breast cancer

Black people diagnosed with breast cancer face unique challenges throughout their diagnoses. Despite increased “breast cancer awareness” among the public, issues of systemic racism, access to high-quality care, genetic differences, and other factors have caused dramatic disparities: Death rates are 40 percent higher among Black women than white women.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer presents the Knowledge is power series to empower Black people diagnosed with breast cancer and their caregivers with the practical knowledge to get the best care possible, while learning how to advocate to shrink the significant health disparities that exist.

This educational series helps viewers gain a deeper understanding of breast cancer, the role of clinical trials, and how to identify and address implicit or explicit bias in your care. The sessions also address how to hold effective conversations with healthcare professionals and practical steps individuals can take to get the care they need and deserve.

The speakers in this series include oncologists, social workers, advocates, and researchers. Knowledge is power participants were also encouraged to watch a pre-recorded interview with Dr. Karen Winkfield, Dr. Zanetta Lamar, and Dr. Tiffany Avery of the 3 Black Docs podcast, where they share their advice for Black people newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breaking down barriers: Getting the care you deserve

Session I
Speakers: Zanetta Lamar, MD and Lailea Noel, PhD, MSW

Learn more about strategies that you can use to get the care you deserve as a Black person diagnosed with breast cancer. Our speakers share how breast cancer is experienced differently by Black people due to structural racism, access to quality healthcare, comorbidities, and community access to supportive care and clinical trials.

Living Beyond: Early-stage Black breast cancer & me

Session II
Speaker: Regina Hampton, MD, FACS

Recording unavailable

Living Beyond: Metastatic Black breast cancer & me

Session III
Speaker: Lori Wilson, MD, FACS

This session focuses on metastatic Black breast cancer, addressing treatment and testing options, research updates, and clinical trials available. This video reviews strategies for living with uncertainty and accessing the support you need through resources and programs to help you live well with metastatic breast cancer.

Advocating for change in Black breast cancer care

Session IV
Speaker: Celeste Vaughan-Briggs, LCSW; Otis W. Brawley, MD, MACP, FASCO, FACE; Monique Gary, DO, FACS; and Stephanie Walker

This dynamic panel from Knowledge is power: Understanding Black breast cancer discuss how health disparities and inequalities are impacting Black people diagnosed with breast cancer. The panel discusses the role that research, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies have in creating positive change. The panel also discusses how the broader breast cancer community can impact change and close the gap in health outcomes for Black people diagnosed with breast cancer.

Jamil Rivers, Advisory Board Chair, LBBC Board of Directors and Founder of The Chrysalis Initiative
Ricki Fairley, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
Monique Gary, DO, FACS, Grand View Health/Penn Medicine Network
Felicia Johnson, LBBC Board of Directors
Maimah Karmo, Tigerlily Foundation
Gina Range, LBBC Board of Directors
Crystal Thompson, LBBC Board of Directors
Celeste Vaughan-Briggs, LCSW, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Health
Stephanie Walker, LBBC Hear My Voice Volunteer
Roberta A Albany, LBBC 2021 Gala Honoree and Leadership Volunteer and Cancer In The Know