CARRISSA DIXON
Leading the Effort to Recruit
African American
Sisters
I vividly remember my great-aunt being diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in college. I wondered why she hadn’t told someone or gone to the doctor before it progressed to a very critical stage. I imagine that she might have been afraid of the unknown. I know that she was a woman of great faith and probably prayed for healing. I believe in the power of prayer, but I also believe that getting prayers answered often requires us to take action, and that healing can occur through medical intervention.
I became actively involved in the fight against breast cancer through an outreach program focused on increasing breast health awareness and providing free mammograms to women of color living in a local under served community.
Overall, more white women are diagnosed with breast cancer than women of color. But recently for women under the age of 45, African American women have surpassed other women, with the highest number of new breast cancer cases. African American women often have very aggressive tumors, and are more likely to die from the disease. By participating in the Sister Study or encouraging others to do so, you can help us get closer to finding out if our environment and genes contribute to the differences seen in breast cancer for different women. If you act now, we will have a better chance of determining the causes of breast cancer, which will aid in prevention awareness that could be effective for everyone. Let’s make a difference for future generations. Join us today!