The Black Woman's Breast Cancer Survival Guide: Understanding and Healing in the Face of a Nationwide Crisis

(Hardback)

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Description

Breast cancer is reaching epidemic levels, especially among black women. This survival guide provides tools that womenblack women in particularcan use to identify and combat this all-too-common threat. This "what you need to know" guide is unique in its common sense, "laywoman's" approach and particular relevance to women of color. Its premise is simple: ignorance and lack of education about breast cancer signs and symptoms are still all too prevalent among black women. Many women are not informed about resources available for early detection screening and are not referred for mammography screening. They may also receive significantly delayed treatmentespecially black women. For those reasons and more, black women with or at risk for breast cancer need an advocate who speaks for them and tells them the truth. They have that advocate in Cheryl Holloway, PhDand in this book. A breast cancer survivor and cancer researcher, Dr. Holloway draws on her personal experience and research to offer something far different than the usual medical/oncological works. Her book provides support, current information, and practical advice for confronting and beating the disease. The book is divided into four parts. "Dealing with the Basics" explains how breast cancer hits black women harder and discusses the types of breast cancer they may develop, with an emphasis on the most dangerous. The second section offers practical information, such as how screenings work and the meaning of various breast cancer tests. Part three describes treatments, including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, combined therapy, and other options. The final section describes how to stay vigilant after the cancer is gone and also discusses other forms of cancer for which black women are at risk, such as lung cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer.

Reviews

An excellent, well-written work for all black women and all health-care professionals who wish to understand better the challenges facing this community. * Library Journal, Starred Review *

Author Bio

Cheryl D. Holloway, PhD, is program director for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program at South University in Novi, MI, where she teaches courses on health promotion and wellness, issues in public health, and women's and minority health issues.