Understanding Higher Breast Cancer Risks for Black Women: The Voices of Black Women Study

Disproportionate Impact of Breast Cancer

• ⚠️ Black women face the highest death rates and shortest survival rates from breast cancer in the US.
• 📈 Black women under 40 experience the highest breast cancer rates compared to other demographics.
• 🧬 Factors contributing to these disparities include genetics, access to healthcare, and early detection.

The Voices of Black Women Study

• 🎯 The American Cancer Society is conducting the "Voices of Black Women" study to understand and improve the health of Black women.
• 👥 The study aims to recruit 100,000 Black women aged 25-55 across the US and District of Columbia who have never had a cancer diagnosis (excluding some skin cancers).
• 💻 This is an online study involving an hour-long survey for the initial participation, followed by 30-minute surveys twice a year.
• 🚫 The study does not involve medical tests or drugs, focusing solely on gathering information through surveys.

Contributing to Future Generations

• 💡 Participation in the study is crucial for understanding the complex factors, including social, economic, and environmental influences, impacting breast cancer outcomes.
• 💖 Ambassador Shemikica Dukes emphasizes the personal motivation behind her involvement, driven by family experiences with breast cancer, and the desire to protect future generations.
• 🚀 The message to potential participants is to think about the future and contribute to research that can change the course of outcomes for many women.
• 🌐 Interested individuals can learn more and participate by visiting voices.cancer.org.