the option too rigorous and hard on her body.
In the end, she opted for less toxic therapies, such as estrogen blockers. Thanks to her regular medication and doctor visits, Rivers has been able to maintain a healthy life. Not to mention, she’s caring for her three sons and working full-time. Knollman credits the Philadelphia mom as a “powerhouse.” The woman is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
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Jamil Rivers Teaches Other Women The Importance Of Advocacy
In addition to being a “powerhouse,” Rivers took on the role of a breast cancer advocate. It wasn’t just enough to be her own champion. During her treatment, the Philadelphia native discovered many women, especially Black women, needed help in managing their breast cancer diagnosis.
It wasn’t long before Rivers committed herself to patient advocacy and founded The Chrysalis Initiative. Rivers shared her battle with the chronic disease and encouraged other women to do the same. Furthermore, the initiative offers a wealth of benefits for sufferers such as patient coaching, training for care providers, and other resources to reduce disparities in breast cancer outcomes.
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Thus far, Rivers’ organization has helped around 10,000 patients. Almost 100 percent of women who received coaching through The Chrysalis Initiative reported improved health literacy.
Additionally, the majority of participants expressed an interest in participating in clinical trials for breast cancer. Most clinical trials leave Black patients out of their studies. Fortunately, Rivers is changing the narrative and bridging the gaps in racial disparities within the healthcare system. Though, there’s more in store for patients. Additionally, the initiative has plans to partner with new hospitals, expand its services to people with lung and ovarian cancers, and increase its involvement in clinical trials.
“Sometimes Black women are not offered the highest standard of care. And sometimes it’s because of avoidable problems like incomplete workups. So we’re trying to help them understand what to anticipate, what questions to ask, and how to advocate for themselves,” Rivers said in a previous interview.
It’s women like Jamil Rivers that are making a real difference in the world. The mother of three has survived breast cancer and learned to advocate for herself in the process. Even more endearing, she’s taught other Black women to do the same and get them the help they need.
