Black Women Breast Cancer Stories You Must Hear

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and lately this month has started to mean so much more to me. As a black woman, I realized the statistics are staked against us. All women have a 1 and 8 chances of having breast cancer. However, black women are 40% more likely to die from it. And, we are also more like to get breast cancer earlier.

My Breast Cancer Story

This past year, I got my first mammogram at 35. As a woman who struggled with Endometriosis, I dread going back to the doctor to talk about other issues. Yet, after breast-feeding Klay for 2 1/2 years, I noticed my milk was still flowing. I also realized, I w

as experiencing breast pain. I went to my OBGYN and shared what I was experiencing. And, she immediately started running every test under the sun. Thankfully, it wasn’t breast cancer. However, what we discovered was that I have dense breast tissue that needs to be monitored going forward.

This experience caused me to do something I dreaded — silence everything else going on around me, and prioritize my health. This is something we often don’t do as women, but it is necessary.

And, now I know I need to pay closer attention to my breast health as I get older. And in hind sight, I am appreciative of that moment. This wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have a doctor who took the time to hear me. Or, if I didn’t have a sister in my corner to tell me I needed to take time to look into it and not to let it just go.

As a black woman, I know those two things are rare– a doctor who will validated you and a sisterhood that pushes me to prioritize your health. And I am glad that a major network is taking the time to showcase what the journey really looks like for women of color.

We rarely see this type of storyline played out on TV, and I am excited to share that this year is different!

Black Women Breast Cancer Stories You Must Hear

BETHer has teamed up with some of the best women in television a short film series to share “Her Stories around black women and their journey with breast cancer and domestic violence.

I had a chance to chat with Yvette Nicole Brown, director, and Tressa Azarel Smallwood, producer, about what to expect in this series, and I was excited to hear about everything they poured into this series to give black women hope. As well as, bring awareness to the fact that more black women need to schedule their mammogram sooner. We can no longer let issues go un-addressed.

BETHer Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness

Here is the breakdown of the BETHer Breast Cancer Awareness Series:

The Waiting Room (breast cancer series) features two 20-minute short films. One directed by Yvette Nicole Brown and the other by Ta’Rhonda Jones. The Hotline (domestic violence) features one 20-minute short directed by Caralene Robinson. Projects share health care and domestic violence issues with heart, grace and humanity. Highlighting the disproportionate challenges Black women face in health care and domestic violence support.

It Takes Two — Directed by Ta’Rhonda Jones. Follows a wealthy socialite, Dayna Stevens, whose unexpected illness removes her from the tennis courts to chemotherapy. When she has a chance encounter with a stranger. She gains the support she’s been lacking from the most important people in her life.

The Party — Directed by Yvette Nicole Brown. The Party which focuses on Summer Jackson, a successful magazine executive preparing to celebrate being cancer-free for five years. She is blindsided by the news that her cancer has returned. And Summer would rather die than go through the chemo for a second time.

Her Lyfeline — Directed by Caralene Robinson. Follows London, a popular singer who is trapped in a high-profile, abusive relationship with her producer-boyfriend, King Sire. London reaches out to a domestic violence hotline. Under a pseudonym to protect her image, she fights to leave her abuser. And maintain their celebrity while keeping it out of the public eye.

The Waiting Room Trailer

You can catch The Waiting Room on Saturday, October 9 at 10pm on BETHer. This film features some of our favorites — Debbie Morgan as Dr. Green, and Housewives of Potomac’s Gizelle Bryant and Candice Dillard.

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