PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - In an effort to raise awareness about breast health, a local organization is hosting its second annual “Breast Fest.”

Deena Thorton, with Bebashi Transition to Hope, says her organization, which primarily helps people learn their HIV status, also thinks it’s important for people to learn where they stand on other health matters.

She says breast cancer is a major killer in the community, so they devised the Breast Fest.

“And the goal of the event is to educate African-American women about breast health,” Thorton says.  “We’re going to be having clinical breast exams, workshops, presentations — Fox Chase cancer center is here, they’re going to be doing mobile mammograms.”

Story continues below photo…

.

Thorton says breast cancer is particularly lethal in the African-American community.

“African-American women are less likely to get breast cancer but more likely to die from it, because African-American women are not getting their screenings, they’re not doing their breast self-exams at home, they’re not getting their clinical breast exams, and they’re not getting their mammograms at the rate they need to catch it early.  Late detection decreases your chances of survival,” she notes.

To schedule a free breast exam through Bebashi, call 215-769-3561.

Reported by Hadas Kuznits, KYW Newsradio 1060