A new study finds in Los Angeles a black woman with breast cancer is about 70 percent more likely to die from the disease than a white woman, according to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
"If we don’t wake up and become involved we [black women] are going to be an endangered species," said Dr. Robina Smith, a breast cancer surgeon.
Smith attributes the disparity in breast cancer mortality rates to the fact that black women are less likely to discuss the issue with their doctors. As a result, they tend to be diagnosed with the disease at a later stage.
Smith summed up her advice in six words: "We need to talk about it."
Lajuana Brown, a breast cancer survivor, hands out cards to women to remind them to get their mammograms.
"Yes, a lot of black women will say, ‘I don’t want a mammogram because I’m afraid,' and I tell them, 'You should be afraid that you have cancer and you’re missing it,'" Brown said.
Another recent study revealed 20 percent of black women, as opposed to 12 percent of white women, will wait an entire month before returning for the necessary imaging to determine if they have breast cancer, according to Smith.
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Paula Gardener, who lost her aunt to breast cancer, has committed herself to raising breast cancer awareness, especially among the black community.
"Some battles get lost, but there are so many we can win," Gardener said.
