Black Women Face Unique Challenges to Sticking W/ Hormonal Tx

Thank you for sharing this information, I can't help but wince at the title, it almost sounds like most black patients are non-compliant, which is far from the truth. I was able to read this article and a similar one from NPR.

Whats even more interesting is that I had a personal experience with a Nurse Navigator who insinuated that I wouldn't take my medicine everyday as well, almost like she was told that black women wouldn't be compliant or might have difficulties following directions. Needless to say I was offended.

As a young African American woman who was diagnosed before the age of 40, I can definitely say that the barriers that exist for black women that were listed are correct. Like most women on in this online community, I am challenged everyday with balancing my new life with cancer. I am in chemically induced menopause and have hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings etc.

Im only able to combat these side effects because I have the tools to do so. I believe a lot of African American women need the following,

- an understanding that a lifestyle change is needed in order to increase quality of life and possible lower risk of recurrence.

- understanding that not one prescription fits all and the importance of communicating that effectively to a physician. I recently began to pay out of pocket for name brand Arimidex because I experienced horrible side effects with generic drugs (which is only covered through my medicaid insurance). All of my side effects have subsided. Not everyone can afford to do so however.

- a physician/MO who understands that African American women have stress factors that may not effect the white/caucasian patients.

- personalized/specialized care (creating fitness goals, referring patients to services (perhaps complimentary medicine) to combat side effects.

- Most MOs need unbiased nurse navigators and social workers to support them as well.

I had to do alot legwork and research to piece together a team of my own, a manual lymph node massage therapist, acupuncturist, a gym membership, a cognitive behavioral therapist and stress management. All of which can be covered through my Health Spending account through my employer.

It is my greatest hope that ALL women can have equal access to the same thing, but it's simply not true. Money and socio-economic status plays a LARGE role, unfortunately it was not mentioned in this article.

This post has been nagging at me too. Multiple Black women have given feedback and criticism. It should be acted on.

At least the title should be changed. There are ways of expressing the main idea that aren't as problematic.

But maybe the mods should think about what the value of the post overall is. Not every piece of research gets posted on BCO.

I would think it would make sense to fold this one article into a larger one about barriers to healthcare faced by Black women, or about racial disparities in breast cancer treatment and outcomes, or something more comprehensive that does cover more of the ground that Jinx27 pointed towards. It could maybe also include resources and links.