Breaking down barriers in breast cancer research

PEORIA (25News Now) - Saturday morning, the Circle of Promise held a breakfast support group for women who are either going through, survived, or know someone personally affected by breast cancer.

Those who attended were able to fellowship with other women going through a similar situation. They could also shop and support local vendors.

The theme for Saturday’s panel was “Addressing the Lack of Black Women in Clinical Trials.”

The keynote speaker, Sheila Johnson, who has been living with metastatic breast cancer for 13 years says fewer than 10% of Black women are a part of the clinical studies. That means there is less data about the effects of breast cancer on women of color.

”I was a part of a clinical trial and there were not many women who participated. It’s not because Black women don’t want to. They did do a study that said that Black women aren’t asked to participate in clinical trials. So we need to come to a level playing field,” Johnson said. “We know about the medical mistrust but we also need to ask Black women about clinical trials and whether they want to participate in clinical trials.”

Johnson says breast cancer isn’t often studied in Black women.

She also says she lost her mother to the same type of cancer a few years ago.