October 3, 2018
Minority & Small Business Week
Page 25
Breast Cancer Health Focus
Komen reaches
out to African
Americans
Did you know that breast
cancer is the most common
cancer among black women?
One in nine black women in
the U.S. will be diagnosed
with breast cancer in her life-
time.
Despite similar screening
rates, breast cancer is detect-
ed at an advanced stage more
often in black than in white
women, and breast cancer
mortality is nearly 41 percent
higher in black women than in
white women in the U.S.
Susan G. Komen Oregon
and SW Washington finds this
unacceptable and is working
to change the outcome in a
culturally appropriate manner.
The nonprofit is developing a
multi-year project, focusing on
addressing breast cancer dis-
parities in the Portland-met-
ro area’s African American
community with data collect-
ed by a team of independent
consultants from the commu-
nity - Angela Owusu-Ansah,
professor of doctoral studies
at Concordia University; D.
Bora Harris, diversity consul-
tant; and Kelvin Hall, doctoral
candidate and community ad-
vocate.
The team is collecting sur-
veys from various communi-
ty events and is beginning to
African-American-Initiative
or contact D. Bora Harris at
503- 936-8020 or borahbora@
aol.com.
Diversity consultant D.
Bora Harris of Portland
(left) distributes
information and
answers questions
about a public health
campaign by Susan
G. Komen Oregon
and SW Washington
to address breast
cancer disparities in
the African American
community.
recruit participants for focus
group discussions to learn
more about people’s experi-
ences. Four focus groups are
scheduled this month.
The team would like to talk
with African American breast
cancer survivors and those liv-
ing with metastatic breast can-
cer, as well as African Ameri-
can women over age 30 about
their experiences navigating
healthcare. The results will
lead to action for change.
If you or someone you know
is interested in learning more
and/or participating in a focus
group, visit komenoregon.org/