Black women are 41% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women and Black women under 35 get breast cancer at two times the rate of white women, dying at three times the rate. Black women are just as likely to have hereditary breast cancer mutations as white women, yet their participation in genetic counseling and testing is substantially lower.

Black women have three times higher odds of being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, the type associated with a worse prognosis, early relapse after standard chemotherapy, a high frequency of metastasis to lung, liver and brain and a low overall survival compared to other breast cancer subtypes. According to an Ad Council study, 92% of Black women agree breast health is important and 25% of women have recently discussed it, but only 17% have taken steps to understand their risk.

Reaching Black women alone isn’t enough—it’s critical to motivate them to take critical steps towards breast health. This campaign will educate, equip, and empower young Black women without a breast cancer diagnosis to understand and minimize their breast cancer risk via awareness, action, and self-advocacy. Our efforts will focus on young women who are not patients or survivors of breast cancer, but instead young women who have not yet had a breast cancer experience.

Increase young, Black women’s awareness and action (health literacy, early detection, self-breast exams, and self-advocacy for early screening) around Black Breast Cancer before it impacts their own lives.

Equip and empower young Black women without a breast cancer diagnosis to understand their breast cancer risk and risk management options (health disparities in breast cancer, know your HERstory through family health conversations, and resources around genetic counseling and testing for previvors)/

Educate and encourage young, Black women about clinical trials (long before they could need one).

Support crafting key breast/ovarian health messages

PR, Media & Influencer connections

Learnings & Best Practices from past campaigns

Storytelling expertise

Board member engagement & mentorship

Mission Partner cohort

The hope it that this campaign serves as the foundation to reach millions more young Black women in the future, providing them with education and together, helping to eradicate Black breast cancer.