According to the ACS’s Cancer Statistics for African American and Black People, 2025, approximately 34% of all new cancer cases among Black women in 2025 will have been breast cancer diagnoses. And the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that more than 4.3 million women are living in the U.S. with a history of breast cancer—a number projected to reach about 5.3 million by 2035.
While new cases are still slightly lower in Black women than in white women overall, Black women are about 38% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite their 5% lower likelihood of being diagnosed. Among women under age 40, Black women continue to have a higher incidence rate compared to white women.
Some of the contributing factors that may explain this disparity in death rates include African American women being diagnosed at a later stage; aggressive tumor characteristics that are more common in African American than white women and differences in access to and utilization of early detection and treatment.
Still, there is hope for African American breast cancer survivors as they establish their “new normal” and form support systems to empower them along their journey. Sister Network Inc. (SNI) has been on the frontline educating African American communities about the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection. They have also been instrumental in encouraging the community to “stop the silence” and discuss breast cancer to help dispel some of the fears when a woman is diagnosed.
“I’ve seen the perception of our community slowly change from despair when someone is diagnosed with breast cancer thinking it was a death sentence to now there’s hope,” said Karen E. Jackson, founder and CEO of Sister’s Network Inc. A long-term breast cancer survivor Jackson started SNI in 1994 after her diagnoses because she realized the importance of African American women being able to connect with each other no matter what stage they’re in, from being newly diagnosed to being long-term survivors.
Breast cancer survivors can benefit from attending support groups to get emotional support and to help each other stay on track with getting follow-up care post-treatment. “So many times when you’re not in a support system, you forget that you’re a survivor. You don’t do your annual check-ups or continue working toward eating a better diet,” Jackson stated. “I’ve seen over the years how the members of Sisters Network, and other women who are actively involved in support systems, are living longer.”
Survivors Must Stay Vigilant
Jackson herself remains vigilant in getting her post-treatment care. She says that as a four-time breast cancer survivor, she benefited from early detection because her cancer was caught at a very early stage. Sharing her experience is not meant to alarm other survivors that their cancer will come back. Instead, Jackson wants them to remain proactive with their health.
“We should never forget that we’ve been touched by breast cancer and that we should do our due diligence to make sure that, should we have a second, third or fourth bout with cancer, early detection will still work on our behalf. You need to be very much aware of your body. Knowledge is power. Early detection is not a slogan; it’s for real.”
Finding Connection
Sisters Network Inc. chapters are organized by breast cancer survivors who are committed to establishing the much-needed community breast health services. Here are four more resources and support for African American breast cancer survivors of all ages and stages of their journey.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer: A website community for African American women affected by breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen: Read breast cancer survivor stories or share yours.
Tigerlily Foundation’s Tiger Talk: A social media network for breast cancer survivors to connect.
Young Survival Coalition’s Navigator Series: This suite of resources supports, empowers and informs young breast cancer survivors at different points of their journey: newly diagnosed, post-treatment, metastatic and long-term.