Be an Ambassador For the Circle of Promise

A new Susan G. Komen For the Cure initiative is aimed at saving the lives of African-American women. It's called the Circle of Promise.

Alexine Jackson, a breast cancer survivor explains, in her own words, why this outreach is so vital.

Like many women, I found the lump under my arm myself while bathing. I asked my husband, an urologic surgeon, to feel it. He promptly made an appointment the next day with a breast surgeon. I am embarrassed to admit that I had never had a mammogram, even though I was only days away from my 50th birthday. In addition, I knew that I was high risk because my birth mother died of breast cancer at the age of 29. I was only 4 years old. Despite my gross negligence, I was fortunate that a biopsy revealed that my tumor was very small. I shudder when I think it could really have been much worse. Although I had the choice of a lumpectomy, I chose to have a modified radical mastectomy with a silicone implant. After my surgery, I learned that I had two affected nodes and that I would need adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. Subsequently, I began a course of Tamoxifin, which I have decided myself to continue throughout my 21 years of survivorship. Unfortunately, even though I thought that our family history of breast cancer would end with me, two years ago, my oldest daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. She, too, had surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. So now, our hope is that this disease does not hit a third generation of girls in our family. This is why I have joined the Circle of Promise and agreed to be an Ambassador to spread the word of hope through action.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Circle of Promise is designed for African American women because of recent studies and alarming statistics pertaining to this group and breast cancer. Early detection and treatment have improved, which has caused breast cancer deaths to steadily decline among all women since 1991. However, African American women still have a higher breast cancer death rate than white women. While 90 percent of white women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years, only 77 percent of black women survive for that long. These disheartening disparities have prompted Susan G. Komen for the Cure to seek the involvement of the African American community in an effort to eliminate the disparities.

What does a woman have to do if they decide to join the Circle of Promise?
When a woman decides to join the Circle of Promise, she has made the choice to take control of her health and encourage other black women to do the same. This starts by visiting www.komen.org/circle. Registering through the interactive site will be the first step she takes in making the promise to become an ambassador for the Circle of Promise and spreading the word in an effort to encourage others to join as well. Also, she can go even further in educating and encouraging others by supporting public policy efforts, helping Komen to raise funds for research, ensuring that the Circle of Promise is alive in their community, and, ultimately, never giving up on the fight to end breast cancer forever!
How can a woman really take charge of her own health? By educating herself! As women, we need to be aware of our bodies and reduce the risk factors related to breast cancer. On the Circle of Promise web site, there are lifesaving tips, including performing breast self-exams, as well as valuable information about breast cancer and the benefits of early detection.
Education is the key to early detection. This starts with being aware of your risk factors when it comes to breast cancer, knowing how to successfully perform a breast self-exam, committing to perform one every month, and most importantly, never missing your annual check ups. All of us need to promise to take these steps in order for us to have control over our health, reduce our risks, and increase our chances of early detection and treatment, which can have a life-saving outcome. Even after diagnosis, women can use the Circle of Promise for support and resources to help them realize they are not alone in their fight. They can stand strong with ambassadors nationwide, advocating for change in public policy, raising funds for research and finding a cure.

Alexine Jackon

Survivor & Ambassador For the Circle of Promise