The Triangle Tribune | Sports | Black Community Newspaper - Women thrive after breast cancer

3/1/13 10:06 AM

SUBSCRIBE

ADVERTISING

CONTACT US

Site Map

Volume 13, No. 1 March 1, 2013

Homepage About Us News Business Community Focus Sports Arts & Lifestyle Religion Health/Wellness Editorials OPINION Poll Tribune BLOGS View E-EDITION Events CALENDAR ADVERTISING SHOP Local Carolina Classifieds PHOTO Albums POST Foundation Charlotte Post NC Lottery Other Services

Today: Partly sunny with a high of 49

SEARCH:

News
Women thrive after breast cancer
Published Thursday, February 28, 2013 by Taylor Shaw

DURHAM Breast cancer survivors are telling their stories of strength about the elephant in the room. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among African-American women. Even as a health-care professional, when Valarie Worthy was diagnosed in Dec. 1999, she admitted she was afraid. Struggling with her diagnosis, she sought someone to talk to and knew others struggled as well. Worthy joined a support group but found that no one in the group looked like her. Breast cancer is more common among older Caucasian women. Worthy was a 40-year-old African-American. In search for a support group that fit her needs, she stumbled across Sisters Network, the only national black breast cancer survivorship organization. Worthy looked for survivors to launch a local chapter. She knew they existed, but where? The women who were survivors carried their stories to the depth of their privacy, Worthy said. No one wanted to talk about being a breast cancer survivor and were proud of it. In 2003, Worthy found four other members to begin the support group. Since then, Sisters Network Triangle has gained over 40 members. The women embody cancer, survivorship, strength and health. You become the living proof that it does not have to kill you, she said. Once people see the living proof, you can educate them with the data. Worthy heard accounts of women suffering in silence; not even their family knew they had breast cancer. Our community believes that if you are diagnosed with any kind of cancer, your sentence is death. That is definitely not the case. People still believe this, she said. Through outreach, Worthy stresses the importance of early detection and mammograms. She has heard people say that cancer is a curse, they did something wrong, or that it is contagious.

http://www.triangletribune.com/index.php?src=news&refno=7804&category=News

Page 1 of 3

The Triangle Tribune | Sports | Black Community Newspaper - Women thrive after breast cancer

3/1/13 10:06 AM

something wrong, or that it is contagious. Its the African-American culture. We have not been good on levels as it relates to health and health care. Cancer has always been a stigma because people that are survivors are embarrassed. These women are not embarrassed to be survivors. Veronica Morgan, a five-year breast cancer survivor, tells her testimony through gospel music. Her debut album, Glory in the Rainbow, was released in Sept. 2011. The album tells the story of her journey and healing of stage 3 breast cancer. As the winner of The Light 103.9s singing audition for the 2010 Womens Empowerment, excelling to the third round of BETs Sundays Best and owner of Miracle Records, Morgan said, Women who are survivors must tell our story of hope and faith. We must strive to transform a negative situation into a positive outcome. Anita Shontel Woodley, a journalist-turned-actor, wrote and performs in Mama Juggs, a play that confronts the issues of womens breast health and body image. Too bad all of these tumors that look like dimes, nickels and quarters are not money because if they were real money, I would buy myself a Pepsi and a Mr. Goodbar, said Woodley, quoting her mother, Mable-Ree, in the play. While in college, Woodleys mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. What started out as a lump grew into tumors. Her mother had her breasts removed. During this time, Woodley recorded her medical visits and conversations to produce a documentary for a class project. Depicting her mother, grandmother and herself, Woodley portrays true life experiences of her mothers journey during her last stages. She died at age 47. I became her when I was performing, she said. I never had any idea that I was taping her in order to find how to behave like her to share her story with other people. It wasnt in the plan. At the end of her performance, Woodley shows the documentary about her mother. They can see that Im not making this up. This is not a play. This is actually real women and their stories. Im sharing them with you so you can learn from them and save your own life, she said. If my mom would have went [to the hospital] she could have had a chance. Added Worthy: You will not only survive after breast cancer, but you will thrive after breast cancer. Worthy, Morgan and Woodley are thriving in different ways. They have coped and are able to share their stories and experiences to bring awareness to the elephant in the room. Sister Network Triangles monthly meetings are held every fourth Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Ivy Community Center. For more information, contact Worthy at (919) 490-1571, send an email to trianglenc@sistersnetworkinc.org or visit www.sisterstriangle.org.

Comments Leave a Comment

Name:
http://www.triangletribune.com/index.php?src=news&refno=7804&category=News Page 2 of 3

The Triangle Tribune | Sports | Black Community Newspaper - Women thrive after breast cancer

3/1/13 10:06 AM

Name: E-Mail:

Submit Comment Send this page to a friend

Copyright 2013 Triangle Tribune

| Homepage | About Us | News | Business | Community Focus | Sports | Arts & Lifestyle | Religion Health/Wellness | Editorials | OPINION Poll | Tribune BLOGS | View E-EDITION | Events CALENDAR | ADVERTISING | SHOP Local Carolina | Classifieds PHOTO Albums | POST Foundation | Charlotte Post | NC Lottery | Other Services

Designed and Delivered by Accrinet

http://www.triangletribune.com/index.php?src=news&refno=7804&category=News

Page 3 of 3