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RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA— With the support and recognition of, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Inc., California Senator Connie Leyva and Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes recently approved the Resolutions SCR-97 and ACH-94 declaring October 3 as Inflammatory Breast Cancer Awareness Day in the State of California. The day encourages all Californians to learn about this rare and aggressive type of breast cancer and to support all people who are impacted.
Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc. is an organization educating and advocating on behalf of Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), Triple negative (IBC) and Metastatic patients. It was founded in 2011 by IBC fighter Joshlyn Earls.
The impact of the Resolutions passing is monumental for this quick spreading disease, which affects both women and men. It is often diagnosed in women of younger ages and is often dismissed by doctors because they are too young to have breast cancer, not IBC.
As of October 2020, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc., remains the only 501C3 in the state educating, advocating, and promoting on behalf of this lethal form of sub-breast cancer.
This fast growing, incredibly aggressive breast cancer gives the breast a swollen, inflamed appearance, (hence the name inflammatory) and appears as an infection. If you are diagnosed with it, you’re automatically at stage 3b or higher. This breast cancer, unlike other breast cancers, does not feel like a lump. It is hard to detect on mammograms, so many doctors don’t catch it until it’s too late.
According to Dr. Massiom Cristofanilli of Northwestern University, there are an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 new cases of IBC diagnosed annually. This is the very reason why Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc., has chosen to be a symbol of strength for not only Black women and men in the Inland Empire, but for everyone fighting this deadly disease that often leads to a lonely journey while undergoing treatment.
Aside from Fighting 4 the Tatas essential services to patients, its advocacy and fundraising, the Black-led organization is monumental not only to the greater community, but to Black women and women of color as a whole; especially due to the implicit bias’ Blacks face in healthcare.
“As a Black woman undergoing treatment for IBC, it was a little degrading due to the lack of information and lack of my Doctors willingness to answer my questions,” Earls said.
She continues, “My experience consisted of not being given the same healthcare opportunities of my white counterparts. When it came to certain tests that my counterparts received, such as the MUGA Test (multi-gated blood-pool imaging), it was not given to me, but was given to them! I found out after my chemo.”
Earls found out from an associate that she should have been provided the MUGA test, which is given to determine whether or not a patient’s body can tolerate the chemo. After the fact, when she went to the doctors, she asked, “Well, do you want a MUGA test?” Joshlyn agreed and found out that she had an enlarged heart. Luckily, she lived.
Although COVID-19 has presented unprecedented times, Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer, Inc. remains resilient ahead of its Bling for the Tatas fundraising event on its Facebook Live which will be on Saturday, October 3 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. You can follow them on Facebook here.
During the event, community members can assist the organization in raising funds to continue offering IBC, TTN and Metastatic patients counseling services, advocacy on behalf of the patients, educational classes, health and beauty items, emergency utility funding and more.
“When I was diagnosed in 2011 with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, I was given two and a half years to live…it’s such a lonely journey because no one understands,” Earl explains.
She continues, “I remember at one point placing an ad in a number of newspapers just to connect to another person who has undergone treatment for IBC. It’s so important for our organization to raise funds for this disease because our support services provide a space for patients to connect, understand, and receive accurate information regarding this deadly disease.”
For more information or to donate, visit www.fighting4thetatas.org.
About Fighting 4 the Tatas, INC.
Fighting 4 The Tatas is a grassroots, nonprofit 501C3 organization. The organization consists of cancer survivors, family members and supporters; it understands and address the difficulties that newly diagnosed patients encounter as they struggle with their treatment. Fighting 4 the Tatas Breast Cancer Inc., was founded in 2011 during the personal journey of founder Joshlyn Earls. Her journey began with a visit to a chiropractor as a new patient. A digital scan was performed where its image caused concern to the chiropractor. He called Earls to inform her that she needed to see an internist immediately. After two different mammograms, ultrasound, and a needle biopsy, she was diagnosed with High Grade Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma (Clinical diagnosis inflammatory breast cancer).
