On Sunday, October 21 at the City of Hope International Church, Susan G. Komen San Diego’s Circle of Promise was onsite to bring much-needed health resources to the Lincoln Park and surrounding southeast San Diego community.
Attendees had the opportunity to receive free mammograms and clinical breast exams and heard pertinent information from Community Resource Activist, Wendy Shurelds and Dr. Suzanne Afflalo, CEO of “A Healthier Me”. Guests also got to enjoy free lunch, an opportunity drawing, vendors, gift bags and even live music, including a performance from Ken Turner, a San Diego Prestige Award winner.
In San Diego, while the breast cancer incidence rate for African American women is lower than that of Caucasian women, their mortality rate is 40 percent higher. It is important for women and men in the African American community to get screened, and can also be life saving!
WHY THIS IS SIGNIFIGANT:
A message from the organization
- This is the third decade of having a National Breast Cancer Action Month in October. This year, we’re reigniting the sense of urgency to end breast cancer forever by highlighting the unacceptable fact that more than 41,000 people die each year from breast cancer in the U.S. alone. That’s one woman a day in San Diego.
- Susan G. Komen has set a Bold Goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026.
- Due in large part to the success of Susan G. Komen’s ability to bring breast cancer out of the shadows and celebrate those who have survived the disease, many consider breast cancer to be an issue that is no longer an urgent concern. But we hear daily from women, men and their families just how urgent it is.
- Komen San Diego is the only organization in San Diego that will pay for breast cancer screenings and diagnostic tests when someone cannot afford it and there is no other payer source.
- Early detection and effective treatment provide the best chance of survival from breast cancer. No longer will we ask, “When will I find the time?” When is Now.
- Komen San Diego is the only organization that studies San Diego County to identify the gaps in breast cancer care and the barriers to health access and then work to fill those gaps.
- Susan G. Komen is the largest nonprofit funder of breast cancer research outside of the U.S. government and much of that investment has been awarded to scientists in San Diego. Additionally, nearly 70 percent of our research investment is focused on metastatic disease.
- Learn more and get involved at komensandiego.org
Xhaki Clark (L) and Selena Renay (R)
