Younger Women - African Caribbean Women United Against Breast Cancer
Information for younger women and the additional concerns they may have if they think they may have breast cancer.
We hope that what you learn here will empower and encourage you to take responsibility for you're health and you're body.
As a young African Caribbean woman, what should I know about breast cancer?
What Every Young Woman Needs to Know About Breast Cancer.
For younger women diagnosed with breast cancer, so many of them are told that they are too young for the disease. We know that premenopausal women, typically 40 and under) have more aggressive cancers and are more likely to be initially misdiagnosed- and that younger women are more likely to die from breast cancer. Yet because the disease is more common in white middle class older women, young women are often called "anecdotal" and made to feel that the extra challenges they face are not worthy of attention.
The despair-and shock- that they go through can seem overwhelming. But there is hope, and its here, in this site. Young African Caribbean women face unique issues simply because of their race, age confronting mortality so early in life, problems with peer support, and intense feelings of isolation-these issues and so many others. Betterdays explores, tackles and explains, providing information that's been difficult to obtain before now.
For years the medical community has focused on older white middle class women. So, younger African Caribbean women have no support services, networks, and medical information. Older women, for example have specific guidelines to follow to better catch breast cancer early when chances of survival are greatest. But young African Caribbean women have no clear guidelines about what they should do for early detection.
Young women CAN and DO get breast cancer. While breast cancer in young women accounts for a small percentage of all breast cancer cases, the impact of this disease is widespread: There are more African Caribbean women 40 and under in the UK living with breast cancer, and more young women will be diagnosed next year.
But despite the fact that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in woman ages 20 to 50. Many African Caribbean woman and their doctors are unaware that they may be at risk for Basal Type breast cancer. There is no effective breast cancer screening tool for women 40 and under. Young women are often diagnosed at a later stage than their counterparts.
There is very little research or educational material focused on issues unique to
this younger population, such as fertility, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, the
impact of hormonal status on the effectives of treatment, psycho-social and
long-term-survivorship issues, and higher mortality Rates for young women,
particularly for African Caribbean's.
It is important to continue research on young African Caribbean women
with breast cancer to better address theses unique concerns. In addition,
young African Caribbean women affected by breast cancer need to know
that they do not have to deal with their diagnosis alone. There is a
community of young African Caribbean women affected by breast cancer
that they can turn to: Betterdays cancer care.
Young women diagnosed with breast cancer often feel isolated and have
little contact with peers who can relate to what they are experiencing.
Fertility, premature menopause caused by chemotherapy, young
families, single parent, body image, dating, confronting mortality.
For these reasons, Betterdays Cancer care is working to change
the face of breast cancer and increase the quality and quantity of
life for all young women affected by this disease.
We hope that what you learn here will empower and encourage you to take responsibility for you're health and you're body.
As a young African Caribbean woman, what should I know about breast cancer?
What Every Young Woman Needs to Know About Breast Cancer.
For younger women diagnosed with breast cancer, so many of them are told that they are too young for the disease. We know that premenopausal women, typically 40 and under) have more aggressive cancers and are more likely to be initially misdiagnosed- and that younger women are more likely to die from breast cancer. Yet because the disease is more common in white middle class older women, young women are often called "anecdotal" and made to feel that the extra challenges they face are not worthy of attention.
The despair-and shock- that they go through can seem overwhelming. But there is hope, and its here, in this site. Young African Caribbean women face unique issues simply because of their race, age confronting mortality so early in life, problems with peer support, and intense feelings of isolation-these issues and so many others. Betterdays explores, tackles and explains, providing information that's been difficult to obtain before now.
For years the medical community has focused on older white middle class women. So, younger African Caribbean women have no support services, networks, and medical information. Older women, for example have specific guidelines to follow to better catch breast cancer early when chances of survival are greatest. But young African Caribbean women have no clear guidelines about what they should do for early detection.
Young women CAN and DO get breast cancer. While breast cancer in young women accounts for a small percentage of all breast cancer cases, the impact of this disease is widespread: There are more African Caribbean women 40 and under in the UK living with breast cancer, and more young women will be diagnosed next year.
But despite the fact that breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in woman ages 20 to 50. Many African Caribbean woman and their doctors are unaware that they may be at risk for Basal Type breast cancer. There is no effective breast cancer screening tool for women 40 and under. Young women are often diagnosed at a later stage than their counterparts.
There is very little research or educational material focused on issues unique to
this younger population, such as fertility, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, the
impact of hormonal status on the effectives of treatment, psycho-social and
long-term-survivorship issues, and higher mortality Rates for young women,
particularly for African Caribbean's.
It is important to continue research on young African Caribbean women
with breast cancer to better address theses unique concerns. In addition,
young African Caribbean women affected by breast cancer need to know
that they do not have to deal with their diagnosis alone. There is a
community of young African Caribbean women affected by breast cancer
that they can turn to: Betterdays cancer care.
Young women diagnosed with breast cancer often feel isolated and have
little contact with peers who can relate to what they are experiencing.
Fertility, premature menopause caused by chemotherapy, young
families, single parent, body image, dating, confronting mortality.
For these reasons, Betterdays Cancer care is working to change
the face of breast cancer and increase the quality and quantity of
life for all young women affected by this disease.
Betterdays.uk.com 2009 Website Design - Websites Built
DID YOU KNOW?
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
An estimated 19,540 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women in 2009.
The overall incidence rate of breast cancer is 10% lower in African American women than white women.
More Facts.....
1797-1883
Aint I a woman?
A found poem from Sojourner Truth's most famous speech, adapted into poetic form by Erlene Stetson click here to see the full text of the speech, in non-poem format.
That man over there say a woman needs to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches and to have the best place everywhere.
Nobody ever helped me into carriages or over mud puddles or gives me a best place. . .
And ain't I a woman?
Look at me
Look at my arm!
I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me. . .
And ain't I a woman?
I could work as much and eat as much as a man when I could get to it and bear the lash as well and ain't I a woman?
I have born 13 children and seen most all sold into slavery and when I cried out a mother's grief none but Jesus heard me. . .
and ain't I a woman?
That little man in black there say a woman can't have as much rights as a man cause Christ wasn't a woman.
Where did your Christ come from?
From God and a woman!
Man had nothing to do with him!
If the first woman God ever madewas strong enough to turn the worldupside down, all alone together women ought to be able to turn it rightside up again.
Click here to view video.
Aint I a woman?
A found poem from Sojourner Truth's most famous speech, adapted into poetic form by Erlene Stetson click here to see the full text of the speech, in non-poem format.
That man over there say a woman needs to be helped into carriages and lifted over ditches and to have the best place everywhere.
Nobody ever helped me into carriages or over mud puddles or gives me a best place. . .
And ain't I a woman?
Look at me
Look at my arm!
I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns and no man could head me. . .
And ain't I a woman?
I could work as much and eat as much as a man when I could get to it and bear the lash as well and ain't I a woman?
I have born 13 children and seen most all sold into slavery and when I cried out a mother's grief none but Jesus heard me. . .
and ain't I a woman?
That little man in black there say a woman can't have as much rights as a man cause Christ wasn't a woman.
Where did your Christ come from?
From God and a woman!
Man had nothing to do with him!
If the first woman God ever madewas strong enough to turn the worldupside down, all alone together women ought to be able to turn it rightside up again.
Click here to view video.
"I think Betterdays is important especially for younger women and children, they do the caring."
