Nancy Brinker United States Ambassador


Screenings Will Save More Women From Cancer


Mortality rates are declining, but some groups are still not being reached by our healthcare system.


T


his fall, community health and personal respon- sibility are top of mind for every American.


Not only are we in the midst of fl u


season, but lingering COVID-19 vari- ants have forced us into new routines and complicated the actions to sustain good physical, emotional, and psycho- logical health. As the founder of Susan G. Komen, it


has been my life’s mission to strength- en women’s health and increase access to routine screening to bring an end to cancer.


Breast Cancer Awareness Month


is a time to honor the heroic stories of loved ones as we resolve to never give up our fi ght. While our inspiration and determi-


nation remain as prolifi c and steadfast as ever before, it’s also worth consider- ing how COVID-19 continues to high- light alarming disparities in American healthcare. Cancer aff ects all population groups


in the United States, but due to genet- ic factors, as well as environmental and economic disadvantages, certain groups bear a disproportionate burden of cancer prevalence, morbidity, and mortality. Further, disparities can also be seen


when outcomes are improving overall but the improvements are not experi- enced in some groups relative to other groups. A prime example of this trend can be seen when you look closely at recent breast cancer statistics. Although cancer incidence and mor-


tality are declining in all population groups, according to the Breast Cancer


38 NEWSMAX | OCTOBER 2021


Research Foundation, Black women today are 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than other races. Among women under 50, the dis-


parity is even greater. According to the National Cancer


Institute, these kinds of disparities in cancer care can be improved several ways, including by creating screening programs that are accessible to underserved populations. A January 2019 study,


which analyzed characteris- tics of breast cancer patients on a city level through- out the U.S., showed that women with more resourc- es (such as education and income) may be better equipped to take advantage of health- care advances. Indeed, cities, local municipalities,


and counties that have confronted this problem by increasing access to mam- mography facilities have made signifi - cant progress in narrowing the breast cancer mortality gap between Black and white women. This community-centered approach


that seizes upon the eff ectiveness of patient navigation across the cancer care continuum — from screening through treatment and recovery — is being implemented by several ground- breaking organizations throughout the country, including The Promise Fund of Florida. The global pandemic has made


these eff orts more challenging in Flori- da and across the country. In 2020, offi cials at the Centers


for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged Americans to temporar- ily delay routine cancer screenings in order to protect themselves and their providers from the coronavirus and preserve the supply of personal protective equipment. Many older adults, those especial-


ly susceptible to serious eff ects of the virus, continued to follow orders to stay home even into this year. As a result, medical billing records show that appointments for mammograms, colonos- copies, Pap smears, and other cancer screenings have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. These statistics are


alarming and portend rather dangerous trend lines heading into the heart of fl u season, when reluctance for medical


care will only increase. October is traditionally a time to cel-


ebrate and honor our extended fam- ily of cancer fi ghters — from medical researchers, oncologists, and health- care workers, to patients, survivors, and the brave souls of those, like my sister Suzy Komen, who are no longer with us. We must also take this time to rec-


ognize that we live in a beautiful, grow- ing nation that is increasingly more diverse. What goes hand-in-hand with the enhanced strength of our cultural traditions and values must also be the recognition that progress is not shared equally.


Nancy Brinker founded The Promise Fund of Florida and Susan G. Komen. She was U.S. ambassador to Hungary and a goodwill ambassador for cancer control to the World Health Organization.


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