Breast Cancer Initiative Comes to Brooklyn

Breast cancer is the most common cancers among African-American women, and outreach, advocacy and awareness have never been more important in helping women detect, treat and survive what can become a deadly disease.

In 2007, Bed-Stuy resident Suzette Sheppard was diagnosed with breast cancer. She went through the course of cancer treatments and attended a support group at the NYU cancer center. But found she had a hard time connecting with the community there.

“Women of color have different experiences with breast cancer,” said Sheppard.  “Our bodies respond to medications differently; I found I was allergic to things, the wigs made my head itch, I couldn’t relate to the other women. “

Sheppard searched the Internet for a group that would be more tailored to her needs and came across the Sisters Network, Inc.(SNI). Founded in 1994, the organization is the first of it’s kind to increase local and national attention to the devastating impact breast cancer has in the African-American community. 

“Dispelling the myths African Americans have about cancer is hard,” said Bianca Jadoo, a breast cancer survivor and the treasurer of the Sisters Network Brooklyn chapter.

“We don’t tend to go for check-ups and doctor visits. So early and self-detection is really important,” said Sheppard.

Sheppard applied to bring SNI to New York City, and in March, became the President of the Brooklyn SNI chapter. 

“We want to stop the silence: Everyone should be getting mammograms; everyone needs to be doing self breast exams, and most importantly, women need to know, there are ways to get checked out, even if you can’t afford it,” said Sheppard.

The chapter has a board of five women, almost all are cancer survivors.  They meet once a month for two hours at the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA. Their most recent meeting was this Thursday, September 15.

The meetings bring women from acros the city together to talk about anything, from diagnosis and treatment plans, to what to ask your doctor, to things to expect during the journey through cancer.

“Everyone is not always comfortable talking, so we share what we can. Our group is still really young, so we’re still developing trust,” said Jadoo.

The chapter isn’t solely based on support meetings; the network is run on the idea that outreach is a powerful tool in educating to save lives. And they have created many programs to help reach as many women as they can. 

The Pink Ribbon Awareness Initiative reaches out to women in church, giving them the information they need to heighten their knowledge of breast cancer, as well as encourage and inform women about the importance of mammograms and where to get them. 

The organization hosts a “Stop the Silence” 5k Walk/Run, where money fundraised goes to their Breast Cancer Assistance Program, which provides support to women who need financial help with paying for mammograms, medical-related lodging, co-pays, office visits, prescriptions and transportation.

Sisters also organize street teams of volunteers and survivors to go door-to-door in communities, reaching out and giving women literature on the disease. All the programs are tailored to get the word out: Breast cancer is common and aggressive in African Americans, and awareness is survival.

SNI also has yearly conferences; Sheppard’s been to Louisiana for last year’s conference, and this year, it will be in Texas. The conferences enable chapters from across the United States to meet and discuss what they’ve learned, their stories and triumphs.

Sheppard’s life was altered the day she was diagnosed with cancer. “Once you hear those words that you have cancer, your life is never the same,” said Sheppard.  “I eat off of my nice dishes now, I don’t save anything."

“You start looking at birds and full moons... The things you took for granted, you don’t anymore,” said Jadoo.

The Sisters Brooklyn chapter is looking for sponsors to help them reach as many women as they can, because they feel strongly that no woman should be left to battle this alone and without the right resources.

“Everyone has different experiences, but I know I’m not alone anymore,” said Sheppard. “It’s time to stop the silence.”

For more information on or to joint the Brooklyn chapter of the Sisters Network, contact Suzette Sheppard or Beatrice "Bea" Parker at 917-208-0655. Or you may email them at: brooklyn@sistersnetworkinc.org

*Note: This Sunday, September 18, is the Susan G. Komen Run/Walk for a Cure, beginning at 7:30am in Central Park West, between 75th and 90th Streets.