Women In City's Urban Community Learn Importance Of Breast Cancer Screening
By Michelle Durham
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Bebashi, an organization that provides health information to Philadelphia's urban community, hosted their third-annual Breast Fest on Wednesday at their headquarters along Spring Garden Street. The goal is to empower African American women about the importance of self exams and mammograms.
"We're educating African American women about the importance of taking care of their breasts by getting mammograms, clinical breast exams, doing self exams at home," says Bebashi's Deena Weems Thornton. "Participants are able to get a clinical breast exam and also get mammograms."
Statistics show that African American women are less likely to get breast cancer, but if they are diagnosed with it, they're more likely to die from the disease.
"Get your mammograms, because the sooner you find out the better," says Gladys Guitierez, a breast cancer survivor. "Like I found I was stage one where I could just have the mastectomy, and thank God I'm still in remission."
Gladys also had four rounds of chemotherapy, but nothing is stopping her now. She's been cancer-free for six years, and now she's traveling, giving speeches, working and living life to the fullest.
