Breast Cancer Is Still a Health Crisis for Black Women, and We Must Act Now
By Arnedra Jordan
Every year in October, we are flooded with pink ribbons, charity walks, and promises of “awareness” and research for breast cancer, but what about after October? What about in January and February? For Black women, breast cancer is not just a seasonal cause; it is a life-or-death crisis that demands urgent, year-round action. And that must be talked about now.
Black women are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. This is not because we are biologically different. It’s because the systems meant to protect our health often fail, or worse, ignore us altogether.
Despite similar rates of breast cancer diagnoses between Black and white women, Black women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, when the disease is more challenging to treat. We are more likely to experience aggressive forms like triple-negative breast cancer, which is twice as common in Black women as in white women. And when Black women under 50 are diagnosed, they are twice as likely to die compared to white women of the same age group.
The barriers to early detection and treatment are staggering.
Medical racism, bias in pain management, lower rates of insurance, lack of access to mammograms in our neighborhoods, and toxic exposure from beauty products all contribute to the unequal burden we carry. Studies show that Black women experience treatment delays that are 40 days longer than those for white women, a deadly gap when fighting an aggressive cancer.
We cannot talk about breast cancer without talking about environmental justice.
At Black Women for Wellness, our “Taking Stock” study revealed that over 75 percent of beauty products marketed to Black women contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These chemicals have been linked to hormone-driven cancers like breast cancer. Black women deserve beauty, but not at the cost of our health.
We also cannot separate breast health from reproductive justice. Protecting our right to safe products, early diagnosis, quality treatment, and informed choices are all part of the larger fight for bodily autonomy and dignity.
Awareness is not enough. We need action.
We need healthcare providers who are trained to recognize and treat breast cancer early and equitably in Black women, and who will listen to Black women, despite our age and background. We need more clinical trials and research focused specifically on breast cancer in Black women. We need legislation that holds corporations accountable for the toxic chemicals they put in our personal care products, and we need to invest in grassroots organizations like Black Women for Wellness because we are in the community, educating and saving lives every day. Breast cancer is not just a personal tragedy; it is a public health failure.
We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to wait. Because every Black woman lost to breast cancer is a sister, a mother, a daughter, a leader, a light extinguished too soon.
Arnedra Jordan is the Project Manager for Beauty Justice and Breast Health Initiatives at Black Women for Wellness. She is a political scientist and longtime advocate for breast health, environmental health, reproductive justice, and the well-being of Black women and girls.
