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Oct 22, 2008 5:16 pm US/Central
Breast Cancer: Black Women Dying At Higher Rate
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Research shows that in Chicago, the death rate for breast cancer is about twice as high for black women as it is for white women.
CBS
A disturbing new report shows some Chicago women are dying from breast cancer at an alarming rate. The numbers are stunning - and getting worse. An African-American woman in our city is 116 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than a white woman here. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports with a look at why and what's being done to close the gap.
In 1980, breast cancer death rates for white and black women were about equal so that 116 percent disparity shows there's a problem - one the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force is fighting as it releases its second major report back to the community.
CBS 2 spoke with a survivor walking the talk - she heads up the local chapter of Sisters Network, an African-American survivor group.
"I'm a proud survivor," said breast cancer survivor Beverly Gavin.
The path Beverly Gavin walks day in and day out is not easy. Twelve years ago, the mother of two and wife learned she had breast cancer. Over time it moved to her bones affecting her walk, but not her will.
"It's a very personal mission for me to not have my sisters go through what I'm going through," Gavin said.
Part of prevention is knowing what you're up against.
It's why Gavin was at this meeting where the news was sobering: Research shows here in Chicago - the death rate for breast cancer is about twice as high for black women as it is for white woman - and it's gotten worse since last year.
"Black women are not able to access all the important advances we've made in terms of early detection, mammography and treatment," said Epidemiologist Steven Whitman, Ph.D.
Members of the city's Breast Cancer Task Force have 37 recommendations. They include pushing for top quality mammography for all income levels, reducing cost barriers and getting the word out about what is available - like free screening for women without insurance.
The task force gave grants to groups dedicated to education and support - all to prevent the kind of pain Carol Winfrey-Scales felt when breast cancer took her sister.
"It hurts. It hurts real bad, and it's hard to get over," Winfrey-Scales said.
"I feel I've had excellent care and I just want that excellent medical care available to everyone," Gavin said. "I get mad about it and too many times I'm sad about it because we've lost so many sisters to this disease."
It's why she does outreach work with the Sisters Network.
As for the big picture, a bill the Illinois House and Senate have passed that would eliminate co- payments for screenings, allow for more patient advocate programs and set quality standards for mammography.
Backers are waiting for the governor to sign it. They say it's all about making sure everyone has the best possible outcomes.
For more information, visit the links below.
Chicago Breast Cancer Summit:
http://www.sinai.org/urban/summit/index.asp
Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program:
http://cancerscreening.illinois.gov/news.cfm
Network of Strength Illinois Affiliate:
http://www.networkofstrength.org/illinois/
Sisters Network Chicago Chapter:
http://www.sistersnetworkchicagochapter.org/
Task Force Reports Progress (News Release):
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-22-2008/0004909466&EDATE=
Susan G. Komen For the Cure:
http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm?ssSourceNodeId=99&ssSourceSiteId=Komen
Original 2007 Study:
http://www.sinai.org/urban/summit/docs/Task%20Force%20Rpt_Oct%202007_FINAL.pdf
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