Fact: African American women are slightly less likely than white women to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
But they are almost two times more likely to die from it.
This is one of the very first facts you’ll learn while browsing the nonprofit Sisters Network Inc.’s website.
But there are other facts you won’t find in the charts, spreadsheets, and infographics: like the stigma, fears, and loneliness that breast cancer patients can face without a supportive network to lean on, made up of people who know exactly what they’re going through.
For more than 25 years, Sisters Network Inc. has been working to solve these issues for the African American community, nationwide.
Meet Sisters Network Inc.: A Community of Sisters, Leaders, and Survivors
What is Sisters Network Inc?
Sisters Network Inc. is a nonprofit focused on addressing breast cancer within the African American community, from providing all manner of support to breast cancer patients and their families, to raising awareness about the overwhelming and disparate impact breast cancer continues to have on African Americans nationwide.
The organization is lead by founder Karen Eubanks Jackson, a 4-time breast cancer survivor who, during her own battle with cancer, spearheaded the nonprofit in response to what she saw as a need for more “sisterhood” and intimacy within traditional breast cancer groups, as well as a need to raise awareness and solve problems affecting African American breast cancer patients specifically, such as stigma, lower early detection rates, lower survival rates, and more.
Founded in 1994, Sisters Network Inc. is “a leading voice and the only national African American survivorship organization in the United States,” with more than 40 chapters across the country, and an impact that has reached millions to date.
What does Sisters Network Inc. do?
Sisters Network Inc. supports African American breast cancer survivors, patients, and their families simply by listening, identifying needs, and taking any action necessary to meet those needs. Historically, that action has ranged from promoting awareness campaigns and publishing education focused on teaching the public about breast cancer disparities facing African Americans, to providing emotional support and breaking stigmas within the Black community surrounding breast health and breast cancer.
Some examples of what Sisters Network Inc. does include:
- Hosting the National African American Breast Cancer conference, which helps train survivors how to become advocate leaders in their communities
- Providing scholarships to the conference, to help survivors receiving training free of charge
- Providing a COVID-19 breast cancer assistance program to financially assist patients and survivors impacted by the pandemic; recipients can get help with utilities, groceries, and other needs. (Program starts October 12, 2020.)
- Promoting the #snimystorymytruth hashtag on social, where followers can watch inspiring videos of real breast cancer patient and survivor stories
- Publishing breast cancer-related education on social and on their site to help promote healthy habits, early detection, and more, as well as to help raise awareness and put an end to the disparities facing African American breast cancer patients.
Why support Sisters Network Inc.?
Because Black breast cancer patients in America are 42% more likely to die from their diagnosis than white patients, even though white women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
There are a number of reasons for this, and yes: many of those reasons are rooted in the same systemic racism that has led to everything from serious income inequality between Black and white Americans, to unequal access to quality breast cancer education and medical resources.
Nonprofits like Sisters Network Inc. are critical to bringing about change, and to building and educating nationwide communities that can work together to accelerate it.
Perhaps more importantly, en route to that change, Sisters Network Inc. gives breast cancer patients and their families a unique, supportive community, ensuring that no one ever has to feel alone during their cancer treatment, and ensuring that between today and the day a cure is found, there will always be leaders ready to advocate for equality, empower communities, and educate.
How to Support Sisters Network Inc.
To support Sisters Network Inc.:
- Donate directly
- Ask about volunteer opportunities by emailing [email protected]
- Follow them on Facebook to stay up-to-date
- Learn about starting an affiliate chapter near you
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
October is recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please consider using charitable shopping to help support Sisters Network or one of many Breast Cancer Charities fighting to make a difference. You can also purchase gifts for your loved ones from companies that give back to the Breast Cancer Cause!
What is Giving Assistant?
Giving Assistant helps online shoppers turn their everyday shopping into charitable giving.
Members get exclusive coupons and savings at thousands of online stores, plus earn cash back they can donate easily to any nonprofit organization in the U.S.
Nonprofits who partner with Giving Assistant can more easily reach their fundraising goals by receiving these shopper donations.
Our browser extension makes giving easy. Simply download the button, shop, save, and automate your cash back donations.