This weekend V100.7 celebrated their 8th Annual Sista Strut Walk/Run on October 5th.
Sista Strut aims to heighten awareness about the issues of breast cancer in women of color, as well as provide information on community resources. Bailey Coleman of V100.7 proudly hosts this incredible event and encourages women to get a mammograms because the earlier women know the earlier something can be done. As we’ve heard many times before, about 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
Studies show that African American women are more likely to get breast cancer at a younger age and have a death rate from breast cancer higher than Caucasian women of the same age. Sista Strut recognizes the strength of survivors, their family and friends, heightens awareness, promotes early detection and the search for a cure.
Many survivors hit the stage after the walk to share their story, dance, laugh, and have a good time while wearing pink. There was so much positive energy and community support. Many women and families were having a ball. Smiles were everywhere to be found.
The V100.7 Sista Strut have been consistent the past 8 years in their great work to inform the community of some quite interesting facts. They brought out doctors, survivors, and supporters. Some of the facts they discussed were:
* African American women in the U.S. have a 41% higher death rate from breast cancer than white women.
* African American women are more likely than white women to be diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40 and are more likely to be diagnosed with larger tumors.
* Awareness of these issues will help survival rates with earlier diagnoses.
It’s safe to say these stats are extremely important to know. It’s a must that we become more informed. The Breast Cancer Organization publicly shared these statistics online as well. Here’s a few more:
* About 41,760 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2019 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1989. Women under 50 have experienced larger decreases. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
* For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
* Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. In 2019, it’s estimated that about 30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.
* In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. For Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women, the risk of developing and dying from breast cancer is lower.
* In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,930 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
* About 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2019. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 883.
I personally believe information like this needs to be pushed to the forefront more and more. How many of us know someone battling breast cancer? We need to see these stats more often. The earlier we know, the better.
Thank you V100.7 Sista Strut! You guys are awesome. Thanks for caring for our community in such a major way for so many years. Blessings to you all.