Make a Promise to Make a Difference

Each year, in honor of Black History Month, we celebrate and recognize the many achievements made by African Americans in U.S. history.  We also pay tribute to the inspirational African American women and men of recent history who have battled breast cancer.

As many of you know, in April of 2014, all seven Susan G. Komen Affiliates in California, including Komen Orange County, set out to change the disparities that African American women face when it comes to breast cancer. Because African American women were experiencing significantly higher breast cancer mortality rates — 41 percent higher than their Caucasian counterparts — we wanted to ensure quality access to breast health care in this community. The result was a program many of you know as the Circle of Promise. Our goal: get 2,000 African American women screened for breast cancer, and increase dialogue about breast cancer in African Americans within the community and medical field. We’re proud to report we have hit our goal.

Now it’s your turn to help us change black history when it comes to breast cancer. Here’s how you can get involved with Circle of Promise to help lower breast cancer mortality rates in African Americans:

• Sign up at CircleofPromise.org and become a CoP ambassador in your community
• Spread the word to your friends, families and colleagues and encourage them to get involved
• Become a voice in your community to help raise funds for research and to spread awareness about CoP
• Be a ‘Worship in Pink Ambassador’ and organize breast health education events at your church
• Donate to CoP to support the people you love by visiting http://bit.ly/1nVFYXn

Mobile Mammography Van

Tip of the Month: Make sure to be communicative and open about your family’s health history, to increase your chances of detecting breast cancer early, which can be lifesaving.  While we don’t know exactly what causes breast cancer, we do know that having a family history of breast cancer can increase your risk. It’s a tough topic to talk about with family but doing so can save the ones you love.

We hope we can count on you to make a promise to make a difference in the African American community this Black History month and always. For more information visit: www.CircleofPromise.org.