Nancy Brinker United States Ambassador


Neighbors Are Key to Combating Breast Cancer


A


merica is a large, com- plex, and diverse nation. While our attributes comprise exceptional


strength, they also pose unique chal- lenges when it comes to governing the republic. Nowhere is this more prevalent


than in healthcare. The pandemic, and specifi cal-


ly the success of Operation Warp Speed launched during the tail end of the Trump administration, illus- trated that innovation is leading to tangible progress in protecting life. And yet, stubborn disparities


continue to exist when it comes to healthcare aff ordability and access. Solutions are urgently needed


because they’re lifesaving. That’s why I believe it’s worth examining the origin and innovative approach- es of the breast cancer movement in America. What began as a promise to my


dying sister has evolved into the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activ- ists fi ghting to save lives. From the very beginning, we understood the greatest resource at our disposal was our people. This holds true today. The global breast cancer move-


ment began with $200 and a shoe- box full of names in my living room in 1982. We have since built a com- munity of scientists, advocates, neighbors, and friends, stretching the world over, working together to make this disease a distant memory. The breast cancer death rate in


the U.S. among women has fallen 40% since 1989. Much like the global pandemic,


40 NEWSMAX | JULY 2023


progress in the fi ght against breast cancer is largely attributed to improvements in research and early detection.


Community- based navigators, who are selected and trained by professionals adhering to rigorous standards, collaborate with local healthcare organizations and resources to guide patients to available services.


Sadly, disparities in treat-


ment, care, and outcomes continue among vulnerable populations. African American women have the highest death rate of all racial and ethnic groups and, according to the American Cancer Society, are 42% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. Whether combating COVID-19 or


cancer, where a person lives should not determine whether they live. I founded The Promise Fund of


Florida to devolve the approach toward combating cancer through an advanced network of communi- ty-based breast and cervical health


“navigators” among underserved communities. These community health naviga-


tors, who are selected and trained by professionals adhering to rigorous standards, live within the communi- ties they serve and collaborate with local healthcare organizations and resources to guide patients to avail- able services.


Community-based navigation


also allows for the creation of a safe, secure, and confi dential database to serve as a clearinghouse of localized resources and services. This model is particularly nota-


ble considering that the U.S. Pre- ventive Services Task Force recently reversed course, and is now recom- mending women at average risk for breast cancer get mammograms every other year starting at age 40 in light of new science. This is a recommenda-


tion that will save lives, and countless community-centric nonprofi ts are prepared to take up the fi ght to help expand screening access to popula- tions that face challenges when it comes to care and screenings.


The breast cancer movement has


illustrated that the strength and promise of our nation resides, fi rst and foremost, within our people. We must use innovation from the


ground up inside our communities in order to make continued progress in this fi ght and ensure nobody is left behind.


Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen, the world’s largest breast cancer charity, served as U.S. ambassador to Hungary.


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