Care for HER Program Provides New Hope for Black Breast Cancer Patients

Nonprofits TOUCH: The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Unite for HER Partner to Improve Patients’ Lives

ANNAPOLIS, Md. & MALVERN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TOUCH, Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TBBCA), an education and advocacy breast cancer organization for Black women, and Unite for HER, a national breast and ovarian cancer nonprofit organization, announced the impact and expansion of the Care for HER program for Black breast cancer patients.

According to the American Cancer Society:

• Black women are 38% more likely to die of breast cancer, even though black women get breast cancer at a slightly lower incidence rate than white women.
• Black women under age 35 get breast cancer at two times the rate of white women and die from breast cancer three times 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 diagnosed with breast cancer have nearly three times the likelihood of being diagnosed with a subtype called Triple Negative Breast Cancer. It has no therapies to prevent recurrence, and 40% of patients are under the age of 40.

Developed in 2024, the Care for HER program educates about the health crisis faced by Black breast cancer patients while providing Black breast cancer patients with free integrative therapies and nurse navigation services. Since founding the program has made a significant impact on the lives of enrolled patients, as presented at the 2025 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium:

• 85% of program participants reported reduced distress
• 75% of program participants reported reduced unwanted side effects
• 83% of program participants reported a reduction of at least one aspect of financial strain

“We are honored to continue our partnership with TOUCH BBCA to expand awareness and access to Care for HER,” said Sue Weldon, Founder and CEO of Unite for HER. “The best cancer treatment cannot do its job if patients struggle to tolerate it. Through evidence-based integrative therapies, we help women manage cancer-related fatigue, reduce side effects, and better adhere to treatment. Together, we are helping women reclaim their quality of life while reaching more patients who need and deserve this care.”

“We are grateful for our partnership with Unite For HER. Our Care For HER program provides much needed support for Black women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Our program provides wrap-around care to help patients live their best lives while staying on treatment,” said Ricki Fairley, CEO and Co-Founder of TOUCHBBCA.

The Care for HER program is presented by AstraZeneca and Gilead. Funds received during October provide enrolled patients with free integrative therapies, services, and personal 24/7 nurse navigational support at no personal cost.

For more information visit: www.uniteforher.org/careforher

About TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance drives the collaborative efforts of patients, survivors, advocates, advocacy organizations, health care professionals, researchers and pharmaceutical companies to work collectively, with accountability, towards the common goal of advancing science to eradicate Black Breast Cancer. For more information, visit www.touchbbca.org.

About Unite For HER
Unite for HER supports breast cancer and ovarian cancer patients in the United States. Unite for HER provides integrative therapies, services, education, resources, and support directly to patients at no personal cost. For more information, visit www.uniteforher.org.