Even though Black women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than White women, they’re 40 percent more likely to die from it, according to the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR, 2022).
It’s a gap that has persisted for years — and one that researchers say can’t be explained by biology alone. Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director at the American Cancer Society, recently said, “We have been reporting this same disparity year after year for a decade. The differences in death rates are not explained by Black women having more aggressive cancers. It is time for health systems to take a hard look at how they are caring differently for Black women.”
Now, Word In Black is calling on our community to help uncover the why behind the statistics. The media collective, which includes The Washington Informer and other Black-owned outlets across the country, has launched a short breast cancer awareness survey to better understand the experiences, barriers, and beliefs of Black women around breast health.
The anonymous survey asks about risk awareness, access to screenings, and trust in the health system — and takes less than five minutes to complete.
Your voice can help shape new approaches to outreach, early detection, and care that actually meet our community’s needs.