in 2017 with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), “Black breast cancer patients feel like they don’t have a voice because of who they are. Because, being a black woman, they feel like they’re not given the same chances, they feel like they’re not being heard.”
Well, you probably don’t have a voice only because you think you don’t have a voice! In reality, you do, and not just any meek voice, but a very powerful voice that can engineer massive changes for the lives of fellow breast cancer patients.
It is essential to drive awareness in your local circles and communities. Bond together with Black cancer patients and form fraternities to amplify the social audibility of your voice so that society and the authorities can hear you guys better.
There is a wealth of platforms to use in 2020 in “screaming” your opinion out loud. You can write a blog, do a podcast, and even hold physical movements in your communities to magnify your visibility.
More also, who said social media was just for cat memes and GIFs??? Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and (even the recent craze in town) Tiktok are great platforms for advocacy for Black cancer patients.
Wait, lending your voice isn’t just ceremonial. You have to be aware of your rightful prominence as a critical stakeholder, just like healthcare providers and insurance companies.
According to Maimah Karmo, a courageous 14-year cancer survivor of triple-negative breast cancer, “Black cancer patients and survivors must know how to use their voice and put them at the table as equal partners with their providers, insurers, scientists, and researchers. And not just ask to be there but know they’re right to be at the table.”
Putting her money where her mouth is, Maimah would go on to found the Tigerlily Foundation, a national breast cancer foundation dedicated to providing optimal education for cancer patients, driving awareness via advocacy and hands-on support.
Dedicate some time to study and be bold
Knowledge on its own is medicinal. You must