ABOVE PHOTO: Anita T. Conner
Jenkintown, PA – Enough is enough for mother-daughter breast cancer survivors and Praise Is The Cure co-founders Anita T. Conner and Kerri Conner Matchett. Despite the constant fight to conquer breast cancer, statistics show the death rate for Black women with this disease are continually increasing over the decades, while other racial/ethnic groups are stabilizing or decreasing. That’s why Praise Is The Cure is launching the “This Must Stop” 12-month breast cancer awareness campaign this October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “We want to provide alarming breast cancer facts and practical solutions in hope of more Black women taking action to win the war on this disease,” stated Conner who is a 19-year survivor.
According to the American Cancer Society’s publication Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2016 – 2018, breast cancer mortality is nearly 42 percent higher in Black women than in white women and about half (52 percent) of breast cancers in Black women are diagnosed at a local stage compared to White women. Additionally, compared to 10-12 percent for women of other races and ethnicities, 22 percent of breast cancers in Black women are referred to as triple negative which depending on the diagnosis stage can be particularly aggressive and more likely to recur. “It’s scary to know that today Black women are dying at greater rates than any other ethnic group,” stated Matchett who is celebrating her 9th year being cancer-free, “We have to join together as a community because this must stop!”
During the campaign, Praise Is The Cure will share reasons why there are disparities among black women including but not limited to failure to get mammograms as recommended, lack of education about breast cancer risks and screening methods, as well as lack of or unequal access to quality care. Additionally, the organization will share ways to stop the disparities such as participating in clinical trials and being breast health advocates. Information will be communicated through distribution of printed materials, social media postings, event exhibiting and speaking opportunities.
The Praise Is The Cure This Must Stop campaign began on Sunday, October 1 on Praise Sunday to kick-off the organization’s 12th Annual Week of Hope, Health & Healing – a week of breast health education, breast cancer survivor celebrations, mammogram screenings, and general health information. Events include a Survivors’ Pamper Party, Mammogram Screenings, Community Health Fair, Men’s Tailgate Party, Gospel Music Extravaganza, Children’s Festival and Benefit Dance Performance.
Praise Is The Cure, Inc. is a non-profit affiliate of Anita T. Conner & Associates, P.C. whose mission is to eliminate breast cancer disparities among Black women by providing education, access to early detection and other support services for patients, survivors and their families.
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