According to the Center for Disease Control, breast cancer is the second leading cause of mortality among women in America. While breast cancer deaths are declining among white women, black women are more likely than all other women to die from the disease.
Often our cancers are faster growing and harder to treat, and statistics show that we are less likely to get prompt, quality follow-up care when our mammogram results show irregularities. Add to that the normal fear of disease and our tendencies to keep things quiet and soldier on, and serious situations become even more dire.
That is why it is important for women to share their stories about breast cancer. They help us gain strength to take action. Actress Angelina Jolie’s New York Times op-ed regarding her decision to undergo a double mastectomy in light of her genetic predisposition to breast cancer opened the door for more dialogue about this illness.
Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway recently followed suit with her article on The Daily Beast detailing her battle against breast cancer.
The versatile stage, screen, and television actress has a range of work that has taken her from being one of the original Broadway cast members of Dreamgirls, to roles in What’s Love Got to Do with It,Coming to America, Lakeview Terrace, and Showtime’s current hit Shameless.
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article courtesy of TheGrio.com
