By AFRO Staff and Interns
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in America, excluding skin cancer.
It accounts for about 30 percent (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year. This year alone, ACS predicted “about 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer” in women, with another “59,080 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).” Of those numbers, roughly “42,170 women will die from breast cancer.”
Though treatments for breast cancer are improving, disparities still exist.
“While breast cancer incidence rates among Black and White women are close, mortality rates are markedly different, with Black women having a roughly 40 percent higher death rate,” says by Priya Malhotra, PhD, in a report for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
“Among women under 50, the disparity is even greater: Though young women have a higher incidence of aggressive cancers, young Black women have double the mortality rate of young white women,” says Malhotra. “Advances in early detection and treatment have dramatically reduced breast cancer deaths overall, but it’s clear that these breakthroughs haven’t benefitted all groups equally—and this disparity has remained unchanged for more than a decade.”
This year, in celebration of the many Black women who have faced down breast cancer and won their battle, the AFRO offered survivors a chance to be photographed by the award-winning, Baltimore-based photographer, Devin Allen.
Women from all walks of life bravely told how they overcame the obstacles set before them. Though all were worthy, a few of the brave women who shared their experiences were selected for the final photo shoot.
These are their stories.
Dr. Katrina L. Shaw
Dr. Katrina L. Shaw, 63, was diagnosed with breast cancer on Oct. 1, 2013–the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Shaw had no family history of breast cancer, but due to her dense breast tissue, she regularly had a diagnostic mammogram, which is used in situations where there are already symptoms or serious concerns.
Today, Shaw is founder of the nonprofit, Mammograms Are Not Enough. She has one piece of advice for women who, like her, are informed of density issues:
“If you have dense breasts, make sure you’re getting a diagnostic because a regular mammogram is not enough.”
Read more about Katrina L. Shaw’s story here.
Lisa Johnson
Lisa Johnson’s journey began in 2015, when she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
She opted to have a single mastectomy because the breast cancer was only on her right side. She had mastectomy reconstruction reconstruction surgery, went through six rounds of surgery, and fought off near-fatal complications from chemotherapy.
She was fine, for a while. But in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed a cough.
In July of 2020, Johnson’s PET scan indicated that the cancer was in her lungs and bones had been metastasized. She was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Doctors later also found cancer in her brain.
“When I heard stage four…I knew for sure, it was the end…that level of grief being faced with my immortality almost took me out, but I had to collect myself,” said Johnson. “ remember that the same God who I declared was going to heal me in 2015 the same God in 2020.”
Five years later, Johnson is alive and living life to the fullest. She receives a monthly oral chemotherapy pill that she takes along with injections, proving that there is hope even for those who have to take on multiple battles with cancer.
Read more about Lisa Johnson’s story here..
Tara Doaty
Baltimorean Tara Doaty, 44, was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in 2024. After receiving her annual mammogram at the top of the year, her results came back normal. But in September 2024, while she was doing some dry brushing at home, she felt a lump. The location caused it to press against a nerve—a rare symptom, since tumors typically don’t move or cause pain.
A biopsy confirmed triple-negative breast cancer in one breast. An MRI uncovered estrogen-positive breast cancer in the other. With two types of breast cancer, doctors treated the most aggressive form first, which was the triple-negative.
“Chemo impacts every part of you, not just the cancer cells. My skin turned gray. My nails turned black. My tongue turned black because of the toxins,” said Doaty. “I was put into menopause, so in addition to the chemo making me feel weak, I had hot flashes and extreme bone pain.”
It also affected her sense of identity, especially as a woman.
“Breast cancer is a disease that makes you feel very anti-feminine. It takes all of the things that we are taught make us women—our hair, eyelashes, skin,” said Doaty. “Part of my healing process is making peace with my body not being the same. I have great admiration for it because it’s so much stronger than I thought it was physically and mentally, but it’s not the same.”
It’s been humor and faith that have kept her battling the disease.
“I want people to know that being a cancer survivor is a lifelong process. The side effects of the medications you’re on are not always immediate. They can come up years later,” said Doaty. “I want people to be sensitive to that and be as flexible as possible in supporting the survivor in finding a new identity.”
Read more about Tara Doaty’s fight against breast cancer here.
Tirra Pack
When breast cancer returns, many see it as a breaking point.
For many women it becomes a testament to faith, family and resilience. For Tirra Pack, this couldn’t be truer.
Pack, who faced breast cancer more than once, continued to live, to hope and to inspire others with her strength.
The first diagnosis came when she was just 32. She was a young mother and afraid, she began a fight that would span decades. After overcoming the disease twice, she faced it a third time in 2021. She decided on a mastectomy to stop the cancer from returning. Her daughter and mother stayed beside her through surgery and radiation.
Twenty-six years later, she celebrates being cancer free, grateful for every moment. Her long journey of survival highlights the broader impact of breast cancer, a disease that has affected millions of women across the country.
“My daughter said, ‘I just want my mom here,’” Pack said. “That made my decision. I was going to get that done to save my life and keep living.”
Read more about Tirra Pack’s story here.
Ayo Hogan
When Ayo Hogan first found a lump in her breast, she was laying in bed. Ironically, it was an itch that led to her find the lump and schedule her first mammogram. After the screening, a biopsy was performed and before long, Hogan had a breast cancer diagnosis and a surgery scheduled.
For Hogan, it was a whirlwind.
“It was very rapid in some ways… I didn’t have time to be so much in my head,” she said.
Diagnosed in April 2021, Hogan told the AFRO that doctors performed a partial lumpectomy and removed a lymph node. After surgery, she underwent radiation treatments instead of chemotherapy.
At the same time she was navigating her diagnosis, she was managing her restaurant, Mama Kokos, a coffee shop by day, and a cocktail bar by night. Addressing her health while overseeing business she says was only possible because of support.
I have a partner who’s really supportive and just gave me the time I needed, and I didn’t have to worry about work or anything,” Hogan said. “Between my partner and my daughter, and the very few close friends that I told, I didn’t have to worry about anything.”
A major source of inspiration and strength for Hogan came from Dr. Kokahvah Zauditu-Selassie or “Mama Koko” herself. A year prior, Mama Koko had been diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer.
“Watching her go through her journey strong and not letting anything, any intrusive thoughts and other people’s thoughts get into her space really helped me on my journey,” Hogan said.
For Hogan, a cancer diagnosis always meant a “death sentence” having lost both of her parents to different types of cancer.
“I did not have a positive example of it at all,” Hogan said. “Seeing her go from stage four ovarian cancer, and seeing her come back from that, and then the very next year, having to go through it myself, just really gave me the strength I needed to go through it.”
Hogan now urges women to go get their mammograms.
“It is so important,” Hogan said. “In our community, a lot of times, we’re not going to the doctor unless something is broken or falling off, but we have to do those preventative things to catch things early.”
Hogan also offered advice for those navigating breast cancer presently.
“It sounds cliche, but stay strong and stay with what you know makes you feel good and comfortable,” said Hogan. “It’s your journey and you command it how you want to.”