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US
I commit to making sure that the women of my community are better informed and in the position to better advocate for themselves when it comes to concerns and early detection as well as treatment options.
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US
I pledge to continue to work to highlight men’s health disparities in BIPOC community, including by sharing stories of BIPOC patients and survivors and interviews with men’s health experts.
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US
I pledge to give support after the ringing of the bell. I found that I wasn’t given the same tools that my counterparts were given. I was dropped off and told I was a young and you know strong black woman. I told myself never will I allow another black diamond, face post-treatment alone that comes under the sound of my voice. #itdoesntendwiththering #inclusionpledge
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US
I commit to attending as many meetings and training as I can to be a fully informed advocate for breast cancer survivors. I will inform them about the various programs and events available in hopes that more Black and brown survivors are included as experts. I will also share my knowledge with other groups and encourage them to take the pledge as well.
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US
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We pledge to build communities of representation, inclusion, and liberation.
Shaping culture practices, moved by action, we focus on creating relationships built with those we are not in a relationship with. The results are liberating and transformative.
“Together, we can build communities of representation, inclusion, and liberation. By sharing our stories and humanizing our faces and experiences, we can transform how we treat those with cancer. I am honored to support Tigerlilly’s #inclusionpledge. I pledge to continue to shape cultural practices, moved by action to create transformative relationships.“
Frandklin, TN, US
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Houston, TX, US
Organization Emphasizes the Urgent Need for Policy Action to Address Disparities
November 3, 2021 – A newly released policy brief from the Tigerlily Foundation reveals egregious disparities in screening and diagnosis for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) – the most aggressive form of breast cancer that disproportionately affects minority communities and is diagnosed more frequently in younger women and women of color – and offers urgently needed policy solutions to address them.
“Even as breast cancer awareness month concludes, this new policy brief sounds the alarm that we can’t wind down. Disparities in the screening and diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer – the most aggressive form – are dire and require significant policy actions in response,” said Maimah Karmo, Founder and CEO of the Tigerlily Foundation, a national breast cancer foundation which seeks to educate and empower women of all backgrounds, including those at heightened risk, those facing health disparities, and those with less access to care.
The policy brief, Disparities in Screening and Diagnosis for Triple Negative Breast Cancer, most notably found that clear disparities in age of, time to, and stage of diagnosis exist between racial and ethnic groups in TNBC.
Specific findings of the brief, which was co-authored by Charles Rivers Associates, included:
In response to these findings, the brief recommends several specific policy actions, including:
“Because TNBC is aggressive, it is often diagnosed at later stages and presents a higher chance of becoming metastatic than other types of breast cancer. Women with TNBC can’t wait, and the policy changes recommended in this brief are needed now. Collaboration with all concerned stakeholders – including policymakers – is essential to advancing the outlined policy recommendation to improve the quality of life and long-term survival of all women affected by TNBC,” said Karmo.
Karmo added that effective treatment for TNBC can’t begin until women navigate the often long and complicated screening and diagnostic journey, which is further exacerbated by disparities and bias that exists in our health care system and that the policy brief confirmed. “Unfortunately, many women, especially those from low-income areas and communities of color, face significant disparities in obtaining screening and diagnostic services. Women encounter challenges with availability, such as access to state-of-the-art technology and well-trained medical staff at a location convenient to them. Women also experience barriers to appropriate and timely screening and diagnostic resources due to a lack of affordability, which is linked to insurance status, coverage decisions, and patient cost-sharing.”
While breast cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive form and accounts for 15% of all breast cancers. Current screening and diagnostic practices for breast cancer, which are predominantly focused on women over 40 years of age, put women with TNBC at a disadvantage from the start. Because women with TNBC are typically younger and often lack a family history of breast cancer, these women often face an uphill battle simply trying to get an initial mammogram.
Black women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with TNBC than non-Hispanic white women (21 percent vs. 10 percent of breast cancer diagnoses are the TNBC subtype), and Hispanic women also face a higher distribution of the TNBC subtype than white women (12 percent vs. 10 percent). Black and Hispanic women are not only at higher risk for TNBC compared to Non-Hispanic white women, but they also tend to receive a greater proportion of diagnoses at advanced stages of the disease, making it more difficult to receive effective treatment, which increases the chances of metastases and lowers survival rates.
The full Disparities in Screening and Diagnosis for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Policy Brief can be found HERE.
About the Tigerlily Foundation – The Tigerlily Foundation is a national breast cancer foundation which for over 15 years has provided education, awareness, advocacy and hands-on support to young women (15-45) – before, during and after breast cancer. Tigerlily programs seek to educate and empower women of all backgrounds, including those at heightened risk, those facing health disparities, and those with less access to care.
Tigerlily Foundation Media Contact – @Jeannie Leighton; jeannie@tigerlilyfoundation.org
About Charles River Associates’ Life Sciences Practice –
The CRA Life Sciences Practice works with leading biotech, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies; law firms; regulatory agencies; and national and international industry associations. We provide the analytical expertise and industry experience needed to address our clients’ toughest issues. We have a reputation for rigorous and innovative analysis, careful attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively as part of a wider team of advisers.
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El Segundo, CA, US
