MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action - 33

A SPOTLIGHT ON HEAL
Advocating for Health Equity
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
MARYLAND
PATIENT VOICES FROM ANGEL ADVOCATES
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY ATTENDING
THE OCTOBER HILL DAY.
KAWANA RUCKER, TLF ANGEL LEAD
One of my personal advocacy highlights since joining the ANGEL Advocacy community is creating
a breast health education program for high schoolers. I created a breast health education program
for young women from 9th to 12th grade for propel schools. I've been able to educate over 200
young women and teachers on breast health and breast cancer.
Joining the ANGEL community has educated me on health policy, clinical trials, and scientific
research. Learning more about these things has enabled me to speak boldly to physicians,
policymakers, advocacy groups, and media about health disparities and to evolve into a Tigerlily
Advocacy Team Lead (TL) TNBC Lead Advocate.
Policy and advocacy play an imperative role in promoting social change. Through policy and advocacy,
individuals and organizations can influence government decisions, raise public awareness
about important issues, and promote the adoption of laws and regulations that benefit society.
As the TL TNBC Team Lead in the DC area, I'm participating in Hill Day to encourage Congress to
invest in the TNBC Research and Education Act. We need more research, treatments, clinical trials,
and education on TNBC. TNBC is the breast cancer most young BIPOC women are faced with,
which has a greater risk of mortality.
NEW YORK
" Being an advocate allows
me to be a voice for the
voiceless, but also to be
a part of changing the
narrative that Women of
Color don't matter. "
- Michelle Anderson-Benjamin
MICHELLE ANDERSON-BENJAMIN, TLF ANGEL ADVOCATE
One major personal highlight since becoming an ANGEL Advocate is being the face of the MY LIFE
Matters magazine, health literacy issue. Being diagnosed with breast cancer at 36 and now living
with metastatic TNBC at the age of 39, it would be very easy to give up because you feel defeated.
Joining the Tigerlily family has not only added some amazing people to my village, but has allowed
me to continue to advocate and share my passion and help my sisters gain their wings from this
illness. The marathon continues because the torch is constantly being passed.
Being an advocate allows me to be a voice for the voiceless, but also to be a part of changing
the narrative that Women of Color don't matter. Continuing my education on different topics helps
expand my knowledge and helps me be a better advocate for my community.
One amazing initiative I am currently involved in is being the advocate for women interested in
participating in clinical trials. I am currently enrolled in one, and I document my journey on my social
media platform. By sharing my story, I am a showing the importance of Women of Color in clinical
trials. I am also educating and breaking down the fears many have associated with clinical trials.
Advocacy in policy is so important because it's a constant reminder that there are real people
being affected. Their voices matter, but too often the human connection is forgotten, especially in
healthcare. The patient's needs, concerns, and fears matter. Most importantly, diversity and equal
treatment for all is necessary
What's driving me to advocate for this bill is that I am living with metastatic TNBC, and
unfortunately it is one of the most aggressive subtypes. As a Woman of Color, we are the highest
of those diagnosed and dying from TNBC-why is that our reality?! I remember when I was
diagnosed in 2020 at the age 36, and my doctor had limited resources about TNBC. He could
not explain the reason why I was diagnosed with breast cancer with no family history, and my
treatment options were limited. I took that information and decided to become an advocate that
day because I wanted to be the face of change. Most importantly I wanted to ensure that my
daughter, who was three years old at the time and now high risk, didn't hear the same words. Now
at the age of 39 and metastatic, I am in a clinical trial and educating others about trials.
MY LIFE MATTERS
ADVOCACY IN ACTION | FALL 2023
33

MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action

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