This year, one of the things I’d like to do is focus on our health. There are a lot of topics to cover, but I’d like the first to be about breast cancer. I was listening to the radio and some of the facts they mentioned about black women and breast cancer led me to put this post together.

I was reading an article that stated African-American women experience the longest diagnostic, treatment and clinical delay of breast cancer treatment. It was found that 77% of African-American women survive five years after diagnosis as compared to 90% for white women. African-American women also have a 6 percent higher death rate than white women.

While the numbers over the years have improved, there’s more work to be done. The key factor in decreasing the amount of women who die from breast cancer is education and early detection. The Susan G. Komen foundation has started a group called the Circle of Promise, which was created to ensure that African-American women are empowered with the information and tools they need to take charge of their own health and serve as ambassadors in their local communities. Essence magazine and Ford Motor company have also teamed up with the Circle of Promise to do their part in bringing awareness to the black community.

Now, I’m sure the million dollar question is why is a black man talking about breast cancer awareness? The answer is simple. I have a wife, a mom, a grandmother, family members and friends that could benefit from this type of information. If brest cancer can affect the people in my community, then it also affects me.

Related Links:
NPR : Breast Cancer Differences in African-American Women