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Devotional

Reflections of a Breast Cancer Survivor

Since breast cancer awareness month is now upon us, I'd like to share the following message for the month of October. I hope you'll be inspired by this month's message to make a difference in the fight against breast Cancer.

69 Seconds

According to Susan G. Komen for the cure©, 69 seconds is how often a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world. That's a very alarming statistic in light of the fact that Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among African American women, surpassed only by lung cancer. An estimated 6,020 deaths from breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009. The higher breast cancer mortality rate among African American women compared to white women occurs despite a lower incidence rate. Factors that contribute to the higher death rates among African American women include differences in access to and utilization of early detection and treatment and differences in tumor characteristics.*

Although there has been a steady decline in overall female breast cancer mortality since the early 1990s attributed to improvements in both early detection and treatment, the decrease in breast cancer death rates has been smaller in African American than white women.*

More needs to be done in educating, informing and empowering our community in the fight against breast cancer. And sixty nine seconds is how long it also takes to fight breast cancer by choosing to share, support or educate. Now that breast cancer awareness month is upon us, I hope you'll take 69 seconds and sign up to participate in the Race for the Cure, make a donation for breast cancer research, or place a breast cancer awareness pin or sticker on your lapel as you begin your day? It may seem like a small amount of time to you, but it will make a huge difference in the fight against breast cancer. I know, because someone took 69 seconds to make a difference for me.

Sharing the journey,
Jeaninne

*Source for statistics: ACS African American 2009-2010 Cancer Facts

Here are some links to help you make a difference in 69 seconds:

www.komen-dallas.org/goto/DFWWomenofExcellence (to sign up for the Race for the Cure or make a donation)

www.sistersnetworkdallas.org (to make a donation on behalf of African-American breast cancer research)

Change your Face book and/or Twitter status to the following during the month of October:

o Every 69 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world. #fightbreastcancer at http://69-seconds.org