Written by Rhonda Smith, California Black Media Partner Special Representative
In 2008, I received the news no one wants to hear. I was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer, an ER/PR positive tumor type.
The road to recovery was difficult, and it took a toll on my body that was more than just physical. I grappled with the emotional and mental strain of navigating a health care system that too often fails to meet the unique needs of Black women. There is no manual to guide you through this journey, no prescription to ease the burden. Roadmap It will help you overcome the challenges ahead.
The harsh reality of black women 41% more likely to die The fact that more people are affected by breast cancer than white women is a sobering reminder of the systemic inequalities that pervade our health care system.by American Cancer Society, Black Americans have the highest mortality rates and shortest survival rates of any race or ethnicity in the country. This disparity extends beyond breast cancer, affecting cancers such as colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers.
To overcome these inequalities, we need to attack cancer at its roots. We must detect cancer early and ensure that the communities most at risk have access to the means to detect cancer early. I consider myself lucky to have received a stage 1 diagnosis. But it pains me to know that for many others, breast cancer is often discovered at a more advanced stage.
Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon. Some California lawmakers, particularly U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), are taking decisive action. Lewis is the lead sponsor of a bill that would dramatically expand access to cutting-edge early detection tools for Medicare beneficiaries, including millions of Black Americans living in underserved communities. I am a person. With bipartisan support, this bill is closer than ever to passage.
It was named in honor of Nancy Gardner Sewell, a civil rights leader and passionate advocate for health justice. Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Application Act This will give Medicare the latitude it needs to cover an exciting new class of cancer detection tests as soon as they receive FDA approval.
These tests use the latest scientific findings to identify cancer signals in a patient's bloodstream. Accurately identifying different types of cancer with a single blood draw, greatly improving doctors' ability to detect cancer early and at its most treatable stage.
The next step in the fight against cancer and its disproportionate toll on Black Americans is to urge Congress to pass the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act and ensure that the benefits of this law are not lost on individuals. It starts with making sure that it reaches every corner of our society. community.
I am not advocating for change for myself, but for all Black women who have faced or will face similar battles.
Together, we can rewrite the healthcare narrative, detect and treat cancer early, and ensure that all women, regardless of race or background, have the opportunity to thrive. Masu.
About the author
Rhonda Smith, executive director of the California Black Health Network, leverages her expertise from consulting and spearheading initiatives on health disparities in BIPOC communities to advance health equity for Black Californians. is leading. With her MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and her BS in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech, Rhonda has led innovative projects such as the LiveHealthy OC Initiative and the Susan G. Komen® Circle of Promise California Initiative. We have led the way in addressing health disparities and promoting health. Approach holistic care.
