Breast cancer impacts people from all ethnic backgrounds. However, there are significant differences in the mortality rates among racial groups. African American women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States have a mortality rate that is 42 percent higher than their Caucasian counterparts. This disparity is even greater in Los Angeles where African American women are dying of breast cancer at rates 70 percent higher than Caucasian women are. The Circle of Promise initiative was created to help diminish this health disparity gap while simultaneously creating a cultural shift that will change the outcome for African Americans diagnosed with breast cancer.

Mark Pilon, Executive Director of the Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County talks about reaching out to the African American community to provide information, education and testing on Late Night Health with Mark Alyn.

The California Circle of Promise is an initiative addressing breast cancer disparities among African Americans at the system, community, and individual levels. The initiative serves the unique needs of African American women, 40 and above, who are rarely or never screened for breast cancer in order to provide access to quality breast health care services.

The goal of the initiative is to empower African American women with the knowledge, information and resources to enter and seamlessly move through a quality, culturally competent and coordinated system of breast health care. In some instances, this means bringing the services directly to the community in the form of a mobile breast cancer screening event and/or grass roots health education programs.

The Los Angeles County Circle of Promise could not have accomplished these goals and reached this population of women without the help of our community partners, stakeholders, and sponsors. Their collaborative efforts have allowed us to do substantial work in the community these past two years. We are incredibly grateful for their partnership and the opportunity to work together to create a positive breast health movement for African American women in Los Angeles County.

air date: 4/15/16