Unite for HER and TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Partner to Address Devastating Disparity in Survival for Black Women with Breast Cancer

Program Success Earns Poster Presentation at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

ANNAPOLIS, Md. & PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unite for HER, a national breast and ovarian cancer nonprofit organization, and TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TOUCHBBCA), an education and advocacy breast cancer organization for Black women, announced the 2025 Care for HER program for Black breast cancer patients.

The 2025 Care for HER program, presented by AstraZeneca and Gilead, is a pre-emptive campaign addressing breast cancer health disparities by providing Black breast cancer patients with FREE integrative therapies and 24/7 culturally-tailored nurse navigation.

The 2024 program results have garnered a poster spot at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium this December.

Statistics demonstrate the inequities:

• Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer, even though they get breast cancer at a slightly lower incidence rate than white women.
• Black women under age 35 get breast cancer at 2x the rate of white women and die from breast cancer 3x as often as white women.
• The overall 5-year relative survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed is 81% for Black women versus 91% for white women.
• 54% of breast cancers in Black women are diagnosed at a local stage, compared to 64% in white women
• Black women have nearly 3x the likelihood of being diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer which is the only sub-type with no therapies to prevent recurrence.

In 2024, there has been a 62% increase in patients joining Unite for HER, with the majority, 59% being from Black or unsupported groups. The year-round Empowered Living integrative support program saw 430% growth. These statistics support the program impact on Black patients.

“The Care for HER program spreads awareness of the alarming statistics for Black breast cancer patients and makes a difference providing life-changing integrative therapies and personal support. The growth demonstrates the need and interest,” commented Sue Weldon, CEO, Unite for HER.

“Our Navigators are all seasoned Black nurses and social workers, and breast cancer survivors. We are the only 24/7 navigation program. Our services build trust, leading to education and a generational impact, to change the breast cancer trajectory for Black women,” added Ricki Fairley, CEO, TOUCHBBCA.

For more information: www.uniteforher.org/careforher