Beyond the Pink Ribbon: The Fight for Equitable Breast Cancer Care for Black Women
A study of Black women with triple-negative breast cancer shows how dismissal, delays and missing support shape their care, and what equitable treatment requires.
By Jessica James | EEW Magazine Online
A pink ribbon, the symbol of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Credit: EEW Magazine)
Every October, pink ribbons appear across the country for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, drawing attention to a disease that affects millions of women. For Black women, the month carries a harder truth. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than White women, even though they are slightly less likely to be diagnosed with it. Screening and treatment have improved survival overall, yet the gap remains.
Part of the difference lies in tumor biology. Black women are about three times as likely as White women to be diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive subtype that lacks three markers targeted by several common treatments. Published research also shows they are less likely to receive treatment that follows recommended guidelines.
Barriers outside the exam room add to the problem. Transportation, medical costs, insurance limits and appointment delays can slow care at every stage. Even after an abnormal mammogram, some women struggle to get follow-up imaging, biopsies or specialist visits.
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SHARE Cancer Support, a national nonprofit, set out to learn what those gaps look like from the patient’s side. Working with University of South Carolina researchers Tisha Felder and Lucy Ingram, the organization interviewed 20 Black women living with triple-negative breast cancer between November 2022 and March 2023. Participants chose pseudonyms for the study. The project was funded by Gilead Sciences, which the report says had no input into its content.
Most of the women said they received good treatment for their cancer. Many still felt unseen as Black women by care teams that were largely White.
Several described being dismissed when they first raised concerns. One woman, identified as Baddie, said a provider suggested the lump she found was probably a cyst. That happened even after she explained her family history of breast cancer, including a BRCA1 mutation and three aunts who had the disease.
The women described speaking up for themselves as essential, and costly. Self-advocacy, they said, risked being read through the “angry Black woman” stereotype, and the constant vigilance wore them down. “It’s exhausting. It’s not fair,” said a participant identified as Sage Thriver.
Participants also reported anxiety, post-traumatic stress and “chemo brain” tied to their diagnosis and treatment. Some said they did not use counseling offered during treatment because the therapist felt like a poor cultural fit.
The report’s 15 recommendations outline what more equitable care could look like. They include diversifying oncology teams and educating clinicians about triple-negative disease in Black women. They also call for building support into the treatment plan from the start and connecting patients with transportation and financial help. The researchers urge outreach through Black churches, sororities and community organizations. They also note that most participants had private insurance and higher incomes, and that women with fewer resources may have different experiences.
Timely answers are where equitable care begins for every woman. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every two years for women ages 40 to 74 at average risk. The American Cancer Society advises yearly screening starting at 45, with the option to begin at 40. Women with a strong family history, genetic risk or dense breast tissue should ask their providers about earlier or additional screening.
A new lump, swelling, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, persistent pain or any unexpected change in the breast should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, even after a normal mammogram. After an abnormal result, patients can ask when results will arrive, what tests come next and how soon appointments can be scheduled.
Women facing financial barriers can turn to the CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which offers free or low-cost screening and diagnostic services to those who qualify. Many providers also offer patient navigators who coordinate appointments and help locate assistance.
Support matters beyond the clinic. Participants named support groups and family most often. Several described friends and church members who showed up with meals, cleaning and company without being asked. Sage Thriver urged women to set aside the pressure to carry everything alone. “I’m a strong Black woman. No. No. This is the time to receive tenderness,” she said.
Friends, family and church members can offer practical and emotional support during treatment.
Empowering Everyday Women Ministries has met some of these needs since 2012 through Soon the Cure, its annual breast cancer awareness and outreach campaign. Founded after Annie Brinson, mother of EEW founder Dianna Hobbs, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, the campaign promotes early detection and provides prayer, encouragement and care packages to women facing the disease. As of Oct. 14, it had distributed 50 care packages toward its goal of reaching 100 women by Nov. 1.
Black women deserve care that hears them the first time and treatment that meets the standard every patient should receive. The pink ribbon draws attention each October. Closing the survival gap takes commitment that outlasts the month.
Breast health resources
Screening guidance: Federal Task Force | American Cancer Society
Free or low-cost screening: CDC screening assistance program
Breast cancer information and support: Cancer.org | 1-800-227-2345
Triple-negative breast cancer support: SHARE Cancer Support | 844-275-7427
Soon the Cure: Learn about the campaign
EEW Magazine Online is published by Empowering Everyday Women Ministries, which operates the Soon the Cure campaign.
This article provides general health information and does not replace individualized medical advice
