Thirteen Black women who survived breast cancer are sharing how they found strength after diagnosis in a new Self magazine feature published May 29. The article, written by Ayren Jackson-Cannady and Jessica Migala, aims to show the human stories behind statistics that paint a grim picture for Black women with the disease.
Black women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger median age than white women—60 compared with 62—and are 38% more likely to die from the disease, according to the article. They also have the lowest survival rate for every stage of breast cancer and face higher rates of triple-negative breast cancer, a hard-to-treat form of the disease.
The women profiled include those with careers, children, and diverse backgrounds who described moments of decision—looking at a daughter or granddaughter and choosing to fight. The article highlights details that statistics cannot capture: late-night phone calls, head-shaving parties, and therapy sessions that helped them process their diagnoses.
"Black women have always been more than a data point," the article states, "and perhaps nowhere is that truer than in the way they face, survive, and remake their lives after a breast cancer diagnosis."
The feature comes as health advocates continue pushing for better awareness of racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Triple-negative breast cancer, which lacks the three most common receptors that fuel most breast cancers, affects about one in five Black women with breast cancer—more than any other racial or ethnic group. This form of cancer is harder to treat because it does not respond to hormone therapies or drugs that target HER2 proteins.
The women's accounts describe finding community and support through their experiences. Their stories illustrate how patients treatment and rebuild their lives after diagnosis, the article notes.
Dr. Ryan Howes medically reviewed the article. The full feature is available on Self magazine's website.
