In the United States, breast cancer ranks as the second most prevalent cancer, following non-melanoma skin cancer, and stands as the second leading cause of cancer-related fatalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)<\/a>, which reports that \u201cin 2023, the American Cancer Society (ACS)<\/a> anticipated over 300,590 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 55,720 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ\/stage 0 breast cancer<\/a> will be diagnosed among women in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report goes on to state that in the last 30 years, breast cancer deaths dropped by 43%, thanks to better awareness, earlier detection, and improved treatments. But there’s a problem: Black women still face a higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared to white women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the number of new breast cancer cases is similar in both groups, the gap in death rates is significant, with Black women having a 40% higher risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The situation is even worse for younger women. Among those under 50, young Black women have double the risk of dying from breast cancer compared to young white women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is why Reona Berry<\/a>, breast cancer survivor, founding member and president of the African American Breast Cancer Alliance (AABCA)<\/a> says that \u201cwe\u2019ve got to take cancer out of the closet\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a candid conversation with Al McFarlane, Berry shared her personal journey and insights regarding the AABCA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing culturally specific information, education, networking, peer support, and hope to African American women who are navigating the challenges of breast cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reona’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of addressing the prevalence of breast cancer in Black women in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was 35 years old when I first felt a lump. I had it checked out, and they found that it was a cyst or a fibroid. It was water-filled, so there was no problem.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three years later, the lump returned, and she noticed a strange rash around her breast and under her armpit. It was a discolored ring that became progressively darker, causing her discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these concerning symptoms,<\/a> Reona hesitated to seek immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut it didn’t hurt, it didn’t itch, it was just a discoloration that was like a ring, rings kept getting darker and darker. My thinking was, \u2018Okay, I don’t have time for this right now, so it’s not hurting me, so just carry on. By November around Thanksgiving, the lump had made itself known, it was very painful. Even though they say breast cancer isn’t painful, everyone’s different. Mine was pressing on a nerve and that’s why it was painful. I eventually went into the doctor for an exam in January. I had found this strange rash in June, so I basically waited six months before I had it checked out, which is not a thing to do,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reona underwent an excisional biopsy<\/a>, during which her doctor discovered that her condition was indeed breast cancer. She faced the daunting prospect of a partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) and six months of chemotherapy and radiation. Her experience emphasizes the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and prompt medical intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon regaining consciousness after the biopsy, Reona recalled the nurse’s hesitant response: “The nurse said, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry. It’s positive.’ Well, I’m under anesthesia, so I said, ‘Okay.’ I didn’t know what that meant, but I found out later.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grappling with the cancer journey profoundly transformed Reona Berry, revealing a depth of inner strength she had not known before. The diagnosis forced her to confront her mortality at a young age and made her acutely aware of the potential limitations of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I discovered I was stronger than I thought I was because every time I looked at my parents and my family and my friends, I kept thinking this might be the last time I see them,” she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of her struggles, many of which came with a mental toll, such as losing her hair, Reona maintained a regimen of listening to music, particularly the uplifting song “Optimistic” by the Sounds of Blackness<\/a>, to motivate herself and face each day with a positive attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n