We often hear that a cancer experience can be life altering or can contribute to a shift in direction—in life or in work or both. Sometimes it even leads someone to address a gap in care that they experienced. Following her own cancer diagnosis in 1993, Karen Eubanks Jackson discovered there was no community, nor any specific resources designed for African American women facing breast cancer. She committed to filling that gap by founding the Sisters Network. What initially started as a way to connect with other African American breast cancer survivors, grew into a national advocacy organization with more than 40 chapters throughout the country.
Sisters Network provides standardized national educational outreach programs, survivor and family support, and financial assistance to women through its national network. Their services are especially important as African American women face both disproportionate exposure to breast carcinogens and the highest risk of serious health impacts. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women in the United States have a 40% higher mortality rate than their White counterparts, and about a third report experiencing racial discrimination at a health provider visit. With its wide network and cultural focus, Sisters Network aims to break through many of the barriers and disparities African American women face to receive the critical care and support they need.
Thanks to Karen’s vision and unwavering dedication to addressing the specific and complex needs of African American breast cancer survivors, countless women now have a critical source of information, empowerment and sisterhood.
To learn more about the programs Sisters Network has to offer, check out: