Do you know the song, “Lovin’ you is easy cause you’re beautiful”? It was a 1975 hit single by Minnie Riperton, talented African American singer and mother of the now-famous actress Maya Rudolph. Minnie’s career and life were cut short in 1979 at the age of thirty-one. Unfortunately, advanced staged breast cancer is to blame for taking Riperton’s life.
The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition Peer Mentor Support Program provides free one-on-one support and education to those newly diagnosed with breast cancer. When you are diagnosed with breast cancer, it is often helpful to speak with someone who is a survivor and who has been through a similar breast cancer journey.
DBCC Peer Mentors are trained breast cancer survivors who wish to reach out to help and support others with breast cancer. We have a large network of young breast cancer survivors eager and willing to help other young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Robin Roberts is an American journalist who began her television career as a sportscaster on ESPN in 1990. Since 2005, Robin has served as a co-anchor on ABC’s morning show, Good Morning America. In 2007, she was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer. After reporting on a story about a friend who had passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, she decided to do a self breast exam and subsequently found a lump. “At first I thought, ‘This can’t be. I am a young, healthy woman.’, she said. “Nevertheless, I faced my fear head on and made an appointment to see the doctor. Much as I was hoping the doctor would say it was nothing, she did a biopsy and confirmed that the lump I’d found was indeed an early form of breast cancer.”
Our Southern Lights of Life gala is just a few days away. Don’t miss out on our 10th Anniversary bash and get your last minute tickets today!
Register at the following link http://bit.ly/1fmJ635 or call 302-672-6435 for more information.
Richard Roundtree is a famous African American actor, best known as detective John Shaft in the 1970’s film series Shaft. He is also a twenty-one year breast cancer survivor. Roundtree was shocked by his diagnosis in 1993 which was discovered by his doctor after he found a lump. He underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and a mastectomy and kept his health a secret until five years later. He is now a breast cancer activist and helping to teach the public that “breast cancer doesn’t care about gender”.
Support DBCC’s new event “Mom & Me, Grandmom Makes Three Pink Tea” by contributing to our online fundraiser!
Mom & Me, Grand Mom Makes Three Pink Tea is a breast health tea party for women and girls of all ages hosted by the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) in partnership with many youth based organizations. This tea party teaches women about breast cancer and resources for mammography, and also teaches youth about normal breast development. Through this program, DBCC aims to connect underinsured or uninsured women to mammography screenings through Screening For Life and our Mobile Mammography Van, as well as alleviate the fear that young girls have of getting breast cancer.
In honor of Black History Month, DBCC would like to pay tribute to a few of the brave, African American men and women who have faced breast cancer. Some of them you may be familiar with and some may surprise you. It should be noted that breast cancer and treatment options are different for each individual and if you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis you should speak to your doctor to find the right option for you. #BlackHistoryMonth #BreastCancerAwareness
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You probably recognize Wanda Sykes as a hilarious comedian on TV and in movies, but Sykes is also an African American breast cancer survivor. In 2011, Sykes revealed to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres that during a breast reduction surgery, lab work found DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma in Situ) in her left breast. She opted for a double mastectomy to greatly reduce her risk of developing more invasive breast cancer.
On Wednesday, January 22nd 2014, Connie Holdridge, Breast Cancer Survivor and Program Manager of Education and Survivorship in Sussex County and Beth Berger, Communications Director with the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition speak to WBOC’s Lisa Bryant on DelmarvaLife to promote the 10th Annual Southern Lights of Life Gala. They also discussed DBCC’s many programs and services offered to breast cancer patients and survivors.
For more information on programs and events visit http://www.debreastcancer.org.
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition 