We lift up Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Month. Both of these issues impact women and men.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. There are over 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Greater Bay Area females accounting for about one-third of all invasive cancers diagnosed annually. From 2011 through 2015, 25,603 new invasive breast cancers were diagnosed in women in the Greater Bay Area, and 128,158 in California. From 1988 through 2015, the incidence rates for white and Hispanic women declined, while the rate for Asian/Pacific Islander women increased. For African American women, the rate has remained stable. The Greater Bay Area rate of newly diagnosed breast cancers for all races/ethnicities combined was significantly higher than California. Breast cancer death rates declined in all racial/ethnic groups from 1988-2015. From 2011 through 2015, breast cancer death rates varied by race/ethnicity, with the highest rate in African American women (28.6 per 100,000) followed by white women (20.9 per 100,000).

 

What can you do? Get screened and talk to your doctor about which screening test are right for you if you are at a higher risk. Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk. Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40. You can sign up for your screening reminder at www.komen.org/reminder.

 

Domestic Violence is a pattern of violent and coercive behavior used by one partner (Intimate Partner, Familial, Cohabitant or Bystander) in a relationship to control another. Every 9 seconds in the USA a woman is assaulted or beaten. Studies suggest that up to 10 million children witness some form of domestic violence annually. An estimated 29% of African American females are victimized by intimate partner violence in their lifetime. 32.9% of California women and 27.3% of California men experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. In 2017, a total of 169,362 domestic violence-related calls were made to law enforcement in California—a rate of 6.4 calls per 1,000 adults ages 18-69; many other incidents went unreported. 40% of reported incidents involved weapons. Rape crisis centers served 31,790 survivors of sexual violence between 2011 and 2012 in California. In a single day, domestic violence shelters served almost 5,800 women and children.

 

In Alameda County, African American women comprise a disproportionate share of domestic violence deaths (45%) compared to their share of the Alameda County population (12%). Statistics show that Black women typically comprise about 70% of Black congregations. Religious convictions and a fear of shame or rejection from the church may contribute to their remaining in abusive relationships.