My Life Matters - Fall 2021 - 23

WHITE ALL The Power of One
YSHIP
Throughout my cancer diagnosis and treatment,
I have been extremely thankful that I
work at the place where I am also being treated.
Because of my professional career, I have
a very good understanding of cancer and all
the medical jargon that surrounds me. I know
who to go to when I have questions and I understand
what resources are available to me.
I work side-by-side with the people who treat
me - not many people get to say that! When
I was first diagnosed, my mom traveled from
my hometown of Buffalo, NY to attend my
doctors' appointments. She commented how
difficult it would have been to find her way if
I had not been familiar with how to navigate
the Cancer Center's large campus. In an already
difficult and stressful situation, even
the smallest advantage can make the biggest
difference.
I am acutely aware that my access to healthcare
and to health information are only two
of the many advantages from which I benefit.
In addition to my health and cancer literacy, I
am in the " majority " in so many other categories
- socioeconomically, racially, financially
and more. I am a straight, white, middle-class,
well-educated woman. I know I benefit greatly
from the circumstances I was simply born into.
Most people with metastatic breast cancer do
not have the same advantages I do. This is
especially true for women of color.
If you are familiar with the Tigerlily Foundation,
you are probably very aware of the
significant disparities that exist for black breast
cancer survivors. American Cancer Society
statistics tell us that Black women are more
likely to be diagnosed with triple negative
breast cancer, a more aggressive form of breast
cancer. Black women are also diagnosed at a
younger age, at a later clinical stage, and are
more likely to die from their disease. There
are significant barriers to combatting these
startling statistics. One is the mistrust people
of color feel towards our health care system
due to past and present discrimination and
maltreatment. A breast cancer diagnosis is
tough enough, but Black women have so many
additional challenges to deal with.
So, what can a straight, white, middle-class
metastatic breast cancer survivor do to make
a difference?
When people learn that I am living with
cancer and working at a cancer center, they
assume I started my employment there as a
result of my diagnosis. When I tell them that
I was passionate about stopping cancer long
" Amidst the heightened racial
tensions of the last several years, I
have often thought, 'What can I
do to help?' Nothing seemed to fit;
nothing was enough. Very often
when people do not know what to do, they do
nothing, and I was determined to do something.
Something is better than nothing. "
before I was diagnosed, they often comment
on the strange coincidence of it all. I see things
differently, however. When something bad
happens in my life, I ask myself " What am I
supposed to learn from this? " Why, when I set
out to be a child psychologist, am I working
in cancer care? I concluded early on that my
current situation is no coincidence or twist
of fate. I am where I am today - survivor and
caregiver - for a reason and that reason is to
help others.
As a cancer survivor working in oncology,
I am uniquely positioned to help others who
are battling this awful disease. Through my
own diagnosis, I bring deeper insights and
compassion to the work I do every day at the
Cancer Center. I continue to support other
young women who have faced a similar diagnosis.
I continue to raise funds for cancer
research through my own volunteer work. I
advocate for other people who do not have the
same advantages I do.
Having a purpose for the pain and suffering
that my family and I have had to go through
makes my experience so much more palatable
and, simply put, it's the right thing to do.
Amidst the heightened racial tensions of the
last several years, I have often thought " What
can I do to help? " Nothing seemed to fit; nothing
was enough. Very often when people do not
know what to do, they do nothing, and I was
determined to do something. Something is
better than nothing. So here is my " something " .
While I have been an advocate for breast
cancer survivors for the last eight years, I never
specifically called out the experience of Black
women in my advocacy. I know now that I am
missing a huge opportunity. Insufficient as it
may be, I decided I need to start right where
I stand. In my case, that is smack dab in the
middle of the cancer world. I have the power
as a cancer center employee and program
manager of the breast cancer program to be
an advocate for women of color in my daily life
and work. My experience as a survivor only
amplifies my voice and I need to use that voice
to OUR advantage. I need to be intentional
about closing the disparity gap. I need to learn
more. I need to always ask questions like " How
might this be different for women of color? " or
" How can we better represent women of color
in this initiative? " I need to make suggestions
like, " We should include a woman of color on
this. " or, " Let's focus this effort or plan this
event specifically for women of color. " I need
to be a true ally.
As one way to show my commitment, I have
also taken the Tigerlily Foundation's Inclusion
Pledge for Black Women that states " [I] pledge
to only participate in initiatives - panels,
boards, planning committees, programs-that
include the experience of black women; and we
commit to taking specific actions to dismantle
systemic barriers and end disparities for black
women in our lifetime " . It saddens me that we
need such a pledge, but I have gladly taken it
and share my commitment here to hold myself
accountable to it.
I am encouraging everyone reading this
to not only take the pledge, but to find their
" something. " Some white women may feel
powerless or, like me, are scared to act because
they might say or do the wrong thing. For
what it is worth, I give you permission to try;
try something. I challenge you to look right
where you are standing and change the small
corner of your world because doing something
is better than doing nothing. l
MY LIFE MATTERS
FALL 2021
23
https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2019-2020.pdf https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2019-2020.pdf https://www.tigerlilyfoundation.org/inclusion-pledge-new/ https://www.tigerlilyfoundation.org/inclusion-pledge-new/
My Life Matters - Fall 2021

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