“Protecting our health is part of protecting our true legacy.”
On July 9, a powerhouse panel of survivors, clinicians, and advocates gathered for WOCIP’s Pink Table Talk: Real Talk on Cancer, Culture & Care. The conversation—sparked by the late Ananda Lewis’s public fight with Stage 3 breast cancer—pulled no punches: we asked why screenings still happen too late, how cultural expectations keep women silent, and what it means to take the driver’s seat in our own care.
Watch the Highlight Reel
Why This Conversation Hit Home
- Earlier, tougher diagnoses. “Black women get diagnosed at an earlier age—often with more aggressive, triple-negative disease. I had no family history, and I’m still here.”
- Barriers we feel every day. Late mammograms, fear, and a maze-like health-care system remain stubborn obstacles.
- The emotional weight. “It’s intimidating—you’re fighting for your life.”
Yet amid the heaviness, the panel offered a path forward rooted in ownership, community, and relentless self-advocacy.
Three Power Lessons to Carry Forward
- Be your own “Chief Health Officer.” Our lives are sacred; proactively scheduling screenings and asking tough questions isn’t selfish—it’s leadership.
- Voice equals power. Patients who question, clarify, and push often receive better, more personalized care.
- From fatal to chronic. With equitable access to trials, biomarker testing, and continuous advocacy, breast cancer can become a condition we live with—not die from.
What’s Next?
- Book your screening. If you’re 40+ or have risk factors, schedule a mammogram this month.
- Share this video. Every view extends the conversation to a sister, daughter, or friend who needs it.
- Join the movement. Become a WOCIP member or volunteer advocate and help dismantle the barriers we discussed.
Protecting our health isn’t a side quest—it’s the foundation for the careers we build, the families we nurture, and the communities we lift. Let’s keep talking, keep screening, and keep showing up—for ourselves and for each other.
