♪ >> HI EVERYBODY AND WELCOME TO BASIC BLACK.

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND SOME ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

TODAY, BREAST CANCER AMONG BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN.

BLACK WOMEN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO DIE FROM BREAST CANCER AND TO BE DIAGNOSED WITH MORE AGGRESSIVE FORMS OF THE DISEASE.

OCTOBER IS BREAST CAN IS -- BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH AND WE ARE SPEAKING WITH SURVIVORS AND EXPERTS SO OUR AUDIENCE CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WARNING SIGNS, TREATMENT OPTIONS, AND GET CHECKED OUT.

WE HAVE A GREAT PANEL WITH US THIS EVENING.

AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT THE CAVENDISH SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

AND MEDICAL ONCOLOGISTS.

A DIRECTOR OF PATIENT SERVICES AND OUTREACH AND COCHAIR OF THE BOSTON BREAST EQUITY COALITION.

SHE'’S ALSO A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR.

A PATIENT LIVING WITH BREAST CANCER AND A FORMER PATIENT AT THE L.A. FUND.

KAREN BURNS IS THE DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE INITIATIVE TO ELIMINATE CANCER DISPARITIES, CENTER FOR CANCER EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT AT DANA-FARBER CENTER.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU JUST PUBLISHED SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THE DISPARITIES AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR AND BREAST CANCER RATES.

I WONDER IF YOU COULD TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH.

THE RECENT PUBLICATION WE HAD TOOK A LOOK AT THE VOICES OF BLACK WOMEN WHO HAD BEEN TREATED FOR BREAST CANCER AND WE WANTED TO DIVE INTO THEIR PERSPECTIVES.

WHAT MAKES SURVIVORSHIP DIFFERENT FOR THEM.

IT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR VOICES AND REPORT ON WHAT'’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE FOUND WERE, UNIQUE FEAR OF RECURRENCES , USE OF SPIRITUALITY, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH FINANCIAL TOXICITIES THAT THEY WERE FACING AND STIGMA AS WELL.

SO IT WAS A GREAT PROJECT.

>> YOU HAVE A VERY PERSONAL STORY WITH THIS.

WHEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THE FEAR AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AND THINGS LIKE THAT, I'’M SURE YOU FELT ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR CANCER JOURNEY.

>> I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE THREE C BREAST CANCER IN FEBRUARY OF 2022.

I DECIDED TO ACT AGGRESSIVELY AND GET RIGHT INTO TREATMENT AS QUICKLY AS I COULD SO I STARTED MY CHEMO INFUSIONS IN MARCH OF 2022.

AFTER MY INFUSIONS ENDED, I DID MY SINGLENESS ECTOMY IN AUGUST OF 22.

THEN I WENT ON TO DO PROTON RADIATION THERAPY IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002 WHICH ENDED ALL OF MY ACTIVE THERAPY IN NOVEMBER OF 2002.

I AM NOW ON NON-ACTIVE.

I AM STILL ON CHEMOTHERAPY PILLS AND I HAVE ESTROGEN THERAPY THAT I AM ON FOR 10 YEARS.

I ALSO DO INFUSIONS, WHICH IS LIKE A BONE INFUSION TO HELP WITH THE INTEGRITY OF YOUR BONES.

IT HAS BEEN A LIFE ALTERING JOURNEY.

I'’M STILL ON.

THE FIRST PART OF IT WAS EYE-OPENING.

IT ALSO, LIKE MANY OTHER WOMEN, HAVE EXPRESSED, HELPED ME GET INTO MY SPIRITUALITY AND GAME GREATER CONTROL OF MY MENTAL CAPACITY BECAUSE I KNEW THAT'’S WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO SURVIVE.

>> THE STAKES ARE HIGH FOR YOU.

I'’M ALSO THOUGHTFUL OF WHEN YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOUR DIAGNOSIS.

>> I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.

A 12-YEAR-OLD, AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD, A FOUR-YEAR-OLD.

AT THE TIME, MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD WAS ONLY THREE.

I SPEAK ON THAT BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, THREE-YEAR-OLDS ARE SO LITTLE.

THEY ARE VERY MUCH BABIES AT THAT AGE.

IT WAS DEVASTATING.

I HAD JUST ASKED MY SOON-TO-BE EX-HUSBAND FOR SEPARATION THE MONTH BEFORE I GOT DIAGNOSED.

AND IT WAS JUST TURNING MY LOVE -- LIFE UPSIDE DOWN.

I'’M AN ENTREPRENEUR.

I WORRIED ABOUT MAKING MONEY AND SUSTAINING MYSELF, MY CHILDREN.

THERE WAS THE VEIN PART OF ME THAT WAS SCARED.

WHAT WAS CANCER GOING TO MAKE ME LOOK LIKE?

WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME PHYSICALLY?

AND THEN I WAS AFRAID TO DIE.

>> >> YEAH.

>> I WAS AFRAID OF MY MORTALITY AND WHAT THIS MEANT FOR MY LIFE.

AND I STRUGGLED FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITH ALL OF THOSE MENTAL CHALLENGES THAT I HAD DURING MY INITIAL DIAGNOSIS.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE ALSO A SURVIVOR OF BREAST CANCER.

YOU WORK ON THE ADVOCACY SIDE OF A LOT OF THIS AS WELL, WITH THE L.A. FUND AND THE COALITION.

THERE ARE SO MANY FACTORS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN BLACK WOMEN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.

EVEN GETTING A GOOD DIAGNOSIS.

>> YES.

EXCUSE ME.

THAT'’S FAIR.

YOUR FEAR OF DOCTORS BASED ON PAST EXPERIENCE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS.

A LOT OF PATIENTS DON'’T EVEN GET MAMMOGRAMS BECAUSE THEY DON'’T WANT TO OR BECAUSE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS MAY SAY YOU DON'’T NEED IT.

YOU HAVE TO GET OVER THAT FEAR.

EDUCATION.

A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN ARE EDUCATED ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HOW TO FIND LUMPS.

WHEN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GET YOUR MAMMOGRAMS.

THE HEALTH HISTORY OF CANCER.

THOSE FACTORS PLAY A ROLE IN WHY A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN CHOOSE NOT TO GET TREATMENT OR EVEN GET EXAMS.

>>'’S ACCESS TO THAT EDUCATION READILY AVAILABLE?

>> NOT AS IT SHOULD.

MOST PEOPLE, AS YOU SAID, YOU HAVE TO ADVOCATE FOR.

I HAD TO ADVOCATE FOR IT.

JUST THE KNOWLEDGE.

I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED, MY MOTHER WAS GOING THROUGH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER.

I PRETTY MUCH LEARNED FROM HER EXPERIENCES AND THE THINGS THAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF AS WELL AS THE PATIENTS THAT WE SERVE.

>> KAREN, YOU ARE NODDING AT SOME OF THESE.

TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION ESPECIALLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES WHERE WE KNOW THE CANCER RATE IS SO HIGH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE AREAS I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON IS LOOKING AT FACTORS THAT CAN REDUCE THE UNEQUAL BURDEN OF CANCER.

WE FIND THAT HAVING AN EMPOWERING INDIVIDUAL WITH KNOWLEDGE IS A BIG ONE.

IT'’S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE INFORMATION TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE AT.

TO BE ABLE TO RAISE AWARENESS BY WAY OF SCREENING, EARLY DETECTION, THE IMPORTANCE THEREOF, THE VARIOUS TREATMENT OPTIONS.

NOT TO WAIT TO SEEK TREATMENT BUT TO GET TREATMENT.

REALLY EMPHASIZING TO WOMEN THAT, YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BEST.

YOU KNOW HOW YOUR BODY PERFORMS.

YOU SHOULD KNOW HOW YOUR BREASTS FEEL.

THEREFORE, YOU NEED TO IN FACT MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE.

SO IT'’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO TAKE INFORMATION THAT THEY LEARN AS A RESULT OF RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATING THAT INFORMATION INTO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY HAVE WAYS AND REASONS TO MAKE THE DECISIONS AROUND THEIR HEALTH CARE.

>> SPEAKING OF GETTING INFORMATION, WE KNOW THAT A RECENT SURVEY FOUND THAT 22% OF WOMEN IN THE U.S. AGES 35 TO 44 HAVE NEVER EVEN GOTTEN A MAMMOGRAM AND HAVE NO PLANS TO GET ONE.

SO I DECIDED THAT ON MY 40TH BIRTHDAY, THE RISK WAS JUST TOO HIGH FOR MYSELF NOT TO SCHEDULE A SCREENING AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE WITH OUR AUDIENCE HERE TO SHOW YOU THAT A LITTLE BIT OF DISCOMFORT IS CERTAINLY WORTH THE PEACE OF MIND.

♪ TURNING 40 IS A BIG MILESTONE.

THE TIME FOR REFLECTION ON CAREER MAY BE EXPANDING THE FAMILY.

WHEN I HAD A MAMMOGRAM, I DIDN'’T EXPECT TO HAVE TO BE CALLED BACK IN.

BLACK WOMEN ARE ABOUT 40% MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF BREAST CANCER THAN WHITE WOMEN ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AND DIETING YOUNGER AGE.

WALKING INTO THE BREAST IMAGING AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTER, I WAS NERVOUS BUT DETERMINED TO GET ANSWERS.

>> I WILL TAKE YOU TO GET CHANGED.

I'’M GOING TO HAVE YOU CHANGE FROM THE WAIST UP.

>> AFTER A CHECK IN AND CHANGE, MY MAMMOGRAPHY TECHNOLOGIST KIMBERLY GUIDED ME THROUGH THE IMAGING PROCESS.

>> I WILL CHECK YOUR BRACELET.

>> ASKED SEVERAL SCREENING QUESTIONS.

>> AGE OF YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY.

>> 39.

>> HER MOTHER DIED OF BREAST CANCER WHICH IS WHY SHE WORKS HERE.

SHE HAS GUIDED HUNDREDS OF WOMEN THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> JUST LIKE THAT.

>> I WAS SQUEEZED.

>> HOLD YOUR BREATH.

DON'’T BREATHE.

>> AND REPOSITIONED.

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE TIGHT.

ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS RADIOLOGIST WENT OVER MY RESULTS.

>> THERE'’S AN AREA ON THE MAMMOGRAM THAT WE JUST NEEDED A FEW ADDITIONAL PICTURES JUST TO CONFIRM THAT IT'’S BENIGN.

WE ARE LOOKING TO IDENTIFY ANY BREAST CANCERS.

BREAST CANCER CAN LOOK LIKE DENSITY ON A MAMMOGRAM.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS I CAN LOOK LIKE THAT.

>> KEEP THAT THERE.

>> ROUGHLY 18 TO 20 POUNDS OF PRESSURE PUT ON MY BREAST FOR THE SECOND SCREENING.

IT HELPED GET A BETTER IMAGE OF MY BREAST.

>> DON'’T BREATHE.

>> MY SCANS WERE CLEAR.

NOW I CAN REALLY BREATHE.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, GETTING A MAMMOGRAM IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.

I WONDER IF YOU CAN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL MACHINE THAT TAKES THE IMAGES OF YOUR BREAST.

I KNOW THAT I HAD A VERY THOROUGH 3D IMAGE TAKEN.

THAT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING AFTER AN INITIAL SCREENING THAT I HAD.

>> THE TECHNOLOGY IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

THE JOURNEY OF IMPROVING SCIENCE AND IMPROVING THESE TECHNOLOGIES IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT MODALITIES.

THERE'’S AI COMING INTO PLAY.

THERE'’S THE MRI, CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT MY GRAFFITI.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ITERATIONS.

THERE'’S A LOT THERE.

WHAT'’S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO KNOW IS THAT WE START WITH A SCREENING MAMMOGRAM.

IT'’S REALLY THE MOST SIMPLISTIC PICTURES TO TAKE A LOOK.

IF THERE'’S ANYTHING THAT COMES UP THAT LOOKS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS OR SOMETHING THEY JUST WANT TO CHECK OUT FURTHER, WE TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

THE NEXT LEVEL MAMMOGRAM TAKES MORE ANGLES.

IT HAS MORE OF A SQUEEZE OR A DIFFERENT WAY OF LOOKING AT THE DEPTH OF THE TISSUE.

MAKING SURE THAT WE AREN'’T MISSING ANYTHING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAMMOGRAMS.

MAMMOGRAPHY OR IMAGING.

IT'’S REALLY GOOD TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THAT.

WHEN YOU ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING AN EVALUATION, JUST BEING INFORMED AND ASKING QUESTIONS.

PEOPLE WANT TO HELP.

>> MOST WOMEN, FROM WHAT I LEARNED THERE, MOST WOMEN WILL GO IN FOR THEIR INITIAL SCREENING AND MOST WOMEN, EVEN IF THEY HAVE TO COME BACK AND MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE BAD NEWS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BEING ABLE TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THE FIRST STEP COULD LOOK LIKE IS ALSO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

YOU NEED TO KNOW TO NOT BE TOO SCARED.

TRY TO LEAN IN AND BE OK AND TRUST YOUR PROVIDERS.

I THINK FOR ME, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY WORK ON TALKING A LOT ABOUT IS HOW TO BE IMPROVED -- HOW DO WE IMPROVE THAT TRUST?

>> HA HOW DO WE -- HOW DO WE MAKE WOMEN FEEL LIKE, WE ARE THERE FOR YOU, WE WANT TO HELP YOU, WE SEE YOU AND WANT TO HEAR YOU AND BE THERE WITH YOU.

I THINK THAT'’S AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.

>> A LOT OF YOUR RESEARCH CENTERS AROUND THAT.

BLACK AND BROWN FOLKS FEELING SAFE AND NOT HEALTH CARE SPACE.

>> I CAN'’T PARK ENOUGH UPON THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUST.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING A RELATIONSHIP.

OFTENTIMES, WE WANT TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'’S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN ISSUE BUT BECAUSE WE WANT TO DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP SO THAT THEY CSS PARTNERS AND THEY CAN COME TO -- SEE US AS PARTNERS AND THEY CAN COME TO US.

A LOT OF MY WORK TAKES ME INTO COMMUNITY.

NOT ALWAYS AS A CANCER FACING FOCUS.

IT'’S REALLY ABOUT DEVELOPING THAT RELATIONSHIP SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING COMES UP, WHEN THERE'’S A LOVED ONE, IT'’S, CAN YOU HELP ME GET A REFERRAL?

I CALLED DANA-FARBER BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH.

SO REALLY IT'’S ESTABLISHING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS SO THAT IF ANY SHOULD COME UP, IS PROVIDING INFORMATION AND INFORMATION FOR WHEN SOMETHING SHOULD PREVENT -- PRESENT.

THAT THEY FEEL SAFE AND CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL BE HEARD AND LISTENED TO AND ACTED UPON.

>> I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT KIMBERLY, THE TECHNICIAN THERE, HER MOTHER HAD PASSED AWAY FROM BREAST CANCER.

SHE ACTUALLY CHANGED HER CONCENTRATION SO THAT SHE COULD BE IN THE SPACE AND IN THESE ROOMS SO THAT WOMEN OF COLOR SAW SOMEONE THAT LOOKED LIKE THEM AND FELT COMFORTABLE.

SHE DIDN'’T HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE WHEN SHE WAS HELPING HER MOTHER THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO SEE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU AND WHAT COULD BE A REALLY SCARY SPACE?

>> IT'’S ESSENTIAL.

LET ME JUST DIGRESS ONE MINUTE.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT MAMMOGRAM.

WHAT I DIDN'’T SHARE INITIALLY IS THAT I FOUND MY OWN MOM -- LUMP.

I HAD NEVER HAD A MAMMOGRAM.

I WAS TURNING 44.

I NEVER HAD A MAMMOGRAM.

MY MOTHER'’S MOTHER PASSED AWAY OF BREAST CANCER, AS WELL AS MY MOTHER'’S MOTHER'’S SISTER.

I WAS COGNIZANT OF DOING MY OWN BREAST EXAMS.

LIKE MANY BLACK WOMEN, I DIDN'’T FEEL THE URGE TO GET A MAMMOGRAM BECAUSE I HADN'’T HAD GREAT INTERACTIONS WITH THE HEALTH INDUSTRY, EVEN WITH MY PREGNANCIES.

I DECIDED TO GO GET MY MAMMOGRAM AFTER MY MOTHER URGING ME BECAUSE I FOUND A LUMP AND IT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

I HAD LOST A LOT OF MY PREGNANCY WEIGHT SO I GAVE MYSELF ALL OF THESE REASONS WHY I MIGHT HAVE A MASS OF THAT SIZE.

INITIALLY WHEN I GOT THE MAMMOGRAM, THEY KNEW RIGHT AWAY.

I WAS CALLED RIGHT BACK IN.

I HAD TO GET A BIOPSY.

WHEN THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GET A BIOPSY, I FIGURED WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT WHEN I CAME INTO MY MAMMOGRAM, I WAS MET WITH WOMEN OF COLOR.

THAT IMMEDIATELY PUT ME AT EASE.

IT'’S NOT THAT IF I HAD A WHITE DOCTOR OR NON-COLOR DOCTOR, -- A DOCTOR NOT OF COLOR, I WOULD TIGHTEN UP.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING REASSURING ABOUT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS AND TALKS LIKE YOU.

WHO CAN SAY, THIS HAPPENS.

WE'’VE HAD MANY OTHER WOMEN WITH DENSE BREASTS.

THEY GAVE ME A LOT OF REASONS.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, IT WAS CANCER.

I HAVE TO EXPRESS TO YOUNGER BLACK WOMEN, I KNOW TO SOME YOUNG GIRLS IT WILL SOUND LIKE, YOU ARE 45 YEARS OLD.

I'’M NOT THAT OLD.

I'’M FIGHTING THAT A LOT OF YOU -- WOMEN YOUNGER THAN ME ARE GETTING DIAGNOSED.

I HAVE TO IMPRESS UPON ANYBODY WATCHING, SELF EXAMINATION.

IF YOU ARE SCARED OR APPREHENSIVE ABOUT GOING INTO A MEDICAL SITUATION OR ENVIRONMENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT TAKE SOME INITIATIVE.

CHECK YOURSELF IN THE MORNING.

MY DAUGHTER IS 12.

I ALREADY HAVE HER LEARNING AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IT MEANS TO CHECK YOUR BREAST.

EVEN WITH MY SON.

THE RISE OF BREAST CANCER IN BLACK MEN HAS BEEN RISING AS WELL.

I'’M SORRY THAT I DIGRESSED.

I WANTED TO SAY THAT I FOUND MY LUMP AND I HADN'’T HAD A MAMMOGRAM.

I HAVE TO IMPRESS UPON ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK WOMEN, CHECK YOURSELVES OUT.

IF YOU ARE NOT AT THE AGE TO GET A MAMMOGRAM, MAKE SURE YOU ARE CHECKING YOURSELF MORNING AND NIGHT.

>> I COULD FEEL YOU NODDING ABOUT ALL OF THAT.

TALK TO ME.

>> YES P GET SHE IS SO RIGHT WHEN SHE SAYS THAT.

BACK IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I REMEMBER THE NURSE WOULD COME INTO THE CLASSES AND TALK ABOUT HEALTH AND HOW TO DO SELF EXAM.

I'’VE ALWAYS DONE IT SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IN 2009, I DID FIND A LUMP.

I HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR A FEW TIMES.

THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

WHAT IT DID WAS PROMPT MY MOM TO GO GET HER FIRST MAMMOGRAM.

SHE WAS TURNING 50.

THAT'’S WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER.

I FEEL AS IF I DIDN'’T DO THAT OR GO THROUGH THAT EXPERIENCE, SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE GONE AND GOT HER MAMMOGRAM.

A FEW YEARS LATER, I FELT SOMETHING WASN'’T RIGHT.

THAT SAME AREA WHERE THEY REMOVED THE BENIGN.

I FELT A LUMP.

I STILL CONTINUE TO SELF EXAMINE.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

I HAD A MAMMOGRAM SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO ME FINDING MY OWN BREAST CANCER.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SELF EXAMINE.

I CAN'’T STRESS IT ENOUGH.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS I DECIDED TO COME WORK HERE.

I WANTED BLACK WOMEN TO SEE, THERE IS SOMEONE THERE THAT TRULY CARES ABOUT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING AND WANT TO HELP.

A LOT OF OUR SISTERS DON'’T LIKE TO TAKE HELP.

I'’M HERE TO TELL THEM THAT IT'’S OK. YOU NEED THE HELP.

YOU MAY NOT NEED IT RIGHT NOW BUT AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR TREATMENT, YOU WILL NEED IT.

I PERSONALLY SPOKE WITH JOHNNY OVER THE PHONE.

WE TALKED AND DISCUSSED WHAT WOULD BE BEST WITH THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE.

>> I KNOW THAT INSURANCE COSTS CAN BE PROHIBITIVE TO SO MANY FOLKS.

WE HAD THESE NEW GUIDELINES THAT CAME OUT SO IT ALLOWED WOMEN 40 AND OLDER TO GET MAMMOGRAMS.

I KNOW I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY INSURANCE SAYING, YOU CAN GET A MAMMOGRAM NOW AND WE WILL COVER IT.

THAT HAS TO BE HUGE.

I KNOW THAT DOCTORS HAD BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A LONG TIME TO HAVE SCREENINGS STARTED 40 AND EVEN EARLIER FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE ANY SORT OF PRE-EXISTING FACTORS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME OF THE THINGS TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DISPARITIES.

CANCER OR EVEN HAVING THE SELF ADVOCACY TO GO GET YOUR OWN CANCER SCREENING, YOU HAVE TO BE IN A PRETTY PROACTIVE AND SAFE AND GOOD PLACE.

AS ONE OF OUR NURSES SAYS SHE'’S LIKE, CANCER IS NOT THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM.

OUR PATIENT COME IN AND CANCER IS NOT WHAT THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TODAY.

YOU'’RE LIKE, THAT REALLY PUTS THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.

IF YOU ARE LIVING IN HARD TIMES AND SOMEONE IS LIKE, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR MAMMOGRAM.

YOU WILL BE LIKE, FORGET ABOUT IT.

I'’M TRYING TO GET FOOD ON THE TABLE.

I'’M TRYING TO GET MY KIDS SAFE AT SCHOOL.

I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO MORE IS JUST WRAPPING OUR ARMS AROUND EVERY PART OF PEOPLE AND REALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE THAT WE CARE.

PUT YOUR OWN OXYGEN MASK ON FIRST BEFORE YOU CAN DO OTHER THINGS.

A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES.

I THINK A LOT OF BLACK WOMEN ARE CAREGIVERS.

THEY ARE LIKE SUPER WOMEN.

THEY HAVE THEIR WORKING, PROVIDING FOR KIDS, PROVIDING FOR ADULTS, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

THOSE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TIMES.

WHEN YOU ARE STRETCHED.

SOMEONE SAYS, AND GO GET THIS.

YOU ARE LIKE, FORGET ABOUT IT.

I'’M HERE TO SAY, NO.

DON'’T FORGET ABOUT IT.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

YOU CAN'’T TAKE CARE OF OTHERS IF YOU ARE NOT OK. >> I TOTALLY AGREE.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE DON'’T SPEAK ENOUGH ON ARE THE RESOURCES WITHIN OUR INSTITUTIONS.

I THINK ABOUT THE ROLE OF PATIENT NAVIGATORS.

THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF NAVIGATING WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE TWO WALK THAT JOURNEY OF HAVING CANCER.

ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE DON'’T ASK FOR THEM IS BECAUSE WE DON'’T KNOW ABOUT THEM.

RIGHT?

AGAIN, THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE A PULSE ON ALL THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

WHETHER IT BE GETTING ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'’S HELPING OUT WITH DAYCARE, FOOD INSECURITY.

ALL OF THAT CAN COME BY THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITH INSTANT -- WITHIN INSTITUTIONS.

WE NEED TO BETTER EQUIP INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THESE KIND OF RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> IS THERE MORE THAT THESE INSTITUTIONS CAN DO IN ORDER TO SUPPORT WOMEN COMING IN AND GETTING THESE SCREENINGS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK EVEN PRIOR TO COMING IN, THEY NEED TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY , TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE THEREOF.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO EQUIP.

THERE'’S THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER THAT HAS BEEN VERY MUCH FASHIONED BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY MUCH FAMILIAR WITH COMMUNITY.

THEY TEND TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY ARE SERVING.

GETTING INDIVIDUALS AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SCREENINGS SO THAT WHEN THEY TRANSITION AND, -- IN, IT'’S A TRANSITION WHERE THEY ARE NOT INDIVIDUALS, THEY ARE NOT MADE TO SET UP THE APPOINTMENT.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE DONE FOR THEM.

I THINK THE MORE WE CAN EASE THE PROCESS AND MAKE THE PATIENT BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, THE BETTER IT IS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS.

>> WHEN YOU'’RE ON THE PHONE WITH FOLKS LIKE JOHNNY DO YOU SAY, HERE'’S THE THING.

YOU HAVE COVERAGE NOW.

LET'’S CONTINUE TO GET THIS WORK DONE FOR YOU SO YOU CAN SUPPORT YOUR WHOLE FAMILY.

>> YES.

I TALK TO THEM TO SEE.

THEY HAVE CHOICES.

THEY CAN CHOOSE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE.

SOMETIMES I CAN SEE WHAT THEIR TREATMENT PLAN IS LIKE AND OUR FUNDS ARE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR GRANTS.

WE HAVE THREE MONTHS OR SIX MONTHS.

WE ARE LIMITED TO THE TIME THAT WE CAN PROVIDE.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT AT THE RIGHT TIME.

IF THEY ARE GOING THROUGH SEVERAL CHEMO TREATMENTS, I MIGHT SUGGEST TRANSPORTATION IN THE FORM OF A GAS GIFT CARD.

IF YOU DON'’T HAVE TRANSPORTATION , WE CAN PROVIDE UBER OR LIFT GIFT CARDS FOR THEM.

IF I KNOW THEY ARE PAYING FOR CHILD CARE, WE REIMBURSE FOR PARTIAL CHILDCARE.

THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS I HAVE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'’T KNOW WHAT THE TIME -- AT THE TIME WHAT THEY NEED AND I AM THERE TO GUIDE THEM TO WHAT I FEEL WOULD BE BEST FOR THEM.

>> THAT'’S HUGE.

IN THE LAST MINUTE WE HAVE, I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK TO FOLKS WHO MAY BE WATCHING THAT MAY BE ON THE FENCE ABOUT GETTING SCREENING, MAYBE NOT THINK IT'’S PART WHERE THEY HAVE THE SPACE TO DO THAT.

I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE JOURNEY IN THE IMPORTANCE ABOUT THAT.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT I UNDERSTAND THE PRIDE.

I UNDERSTAND BEING OVERWHELMED AND HAVING A LOT ON YOUR PLATE.

WHETHER IT'’S CARING FOR YOUR CHILDREN, FOR YOUR PARENTS.

WHETHER IT IS REAL WORK.

I HAVE TO SAY, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE AT OUR HEALTHIEST FORAS BLACK WOMEN, SOCIETY HAS MADE US FEEL SELFISH PUTTING OURSELVES FIRST.

THAT'’S A MYTH.

IF WE ARE NOT ALL RIGHT, ALL THE PEOPLE WE TAKE CARE OF WILL NOT BE ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT ELLIE FUND WAS THE FIRST THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN TAKING AWAY MY PRIDE.

OFFERING ME SOMETHING, NOT MAKING ME FEEL LIKE I HAD TO ASK FOR SOMETHING.

>> THAT'’S THE END OF OUR BROADCAST AND THE END OF OUR SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

IF YOU HAVE FACEBOOK.

-- YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.

♪