Breast Cancer Receives National and Local Attention Before Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Detroit

ctress Angelina Jolie shed national light on breast cancer after revealing in a New York Times op-ed article this morning that she underwent a preventative double mastectomy. Jolie's mother, Marcia Lynne "Marcheline" Bertrand, died of ovarian cancer in 2007 and the actress decided to undergo the preventative surgery after learning she had an 87 percent genetic risk for breast cancer.

In the BLAC Detroit May 2013 issue, we introduce you to Barbara Eskridge, a Detroit resident and breast cancer survivor. Eskridge visits communities to encourage at-risk women to get mammograms and cervical cancer screenings as a recruitment specialist for the Wayne County Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program offering breast and ovarian cancer screenings and follow-up treatment at no out-of-pocket cost to uninsured women.

Like "most women," Eskridge says when she was first diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 1989, she didn't know anything about it-and didn't want to, and underwent radiation therapy without asking questions.

However, once she was diagnosed with breast cancer again in 2001, the illness changed her career and purpose. Eskridge talks the importance of mammograms and support among Black women when dealing with breast cancer to raise awareness for the disease and the upcoming Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure 5k Run and Walk at 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 18 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

For more information on how to register for the Susan G. Komen Detroit Race for the Cure 5k Run and Walk, visit our BLAC Detroit Calendar.

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