Tigerlily Foundation Partners with Inova Life with Cancer on #InclusionPledge to Eliminate Disparities for Black Women Living with Breast Cancer

Fairfax, VA – Tigerlily Foundation announced today that Inova Life with Cancer has joined the #InclusionPledge – an unprecedented initiative focused on diversity, inclusion, and eliminating disparities for Black women living with breast cancer. 

As an organization dedicated to ending disparities in our lifetime, Tigerlily Foundation recognizes that recent world events highlight the systemic racism that runs deep and affects every aspect of the lives of the Black population. This is especially true for breast cancer care in Black women. In fact,  

• Black women are often diagnosed at younger ages and have more aggressive breast cancer 
• Black women are often diagnosed at later stages and can often have a poorer prognosis 
• Black women face a 20 % to 40% higher mortality rate compared to overall rates of breast cancer in Black and white women are about the same 
• Black women have a 39% recurrence rate and a 52 % higher relative risk of death  

“Race, literacy, financial barriers, access, social, systemic and hereditary backgrounds should not be determinants of life and health equity. There are significant opportunities to strengthen engagement among the Black community, healthcare providers and medical organizations, toward improving health and health outcomes. In order to bring about change, we have banded together with our colleagues and friends to launch the #InclusionPledge to advocate for the inclusion of women of color across initiatives impacting their breast cancer and overall health. We are excited to partner with organizations, like Inova Life with Cancer to work towards equitable outcomes for Black women.” – Maimah Karmo, President, Tigerlily Foundation  

Life with Cancer, a leading Northern Virginia education and emotional support program, is part of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute and offers a variety of in-person and online events and services at no-cost* for patients, survivors, and their family members to help individuals cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way. 

“Inova Life with Cancer is committed to improving the health outcomes and bridging the gaps of access and equitable care for the Black Community and vulnerable populations who have long dealt with systemic and institutional injustices and racial inequities,” said Jennifer Bires, executive director, Life with Cancer and patient experience, Inova Schar Cancer Institute. “We are proud to partner with the Tigerlily Foundation by signing the #InclusionPledge to forge meaningful change.”

Life with Cancer is teaming up with Tigerlily to: 

• Collaborate on research initiatives in order to enroll diverse participants  
• Collaborate to support education of the Angels Advocates on survivorship topics like brain fog so they can validate and educate their community members  
• Work toward goals of supporting peer facilitation of psychosocial programs to decrease barriers to access 
• Co-brand resources that will work to dismantle barriers that lead to health inequity 
• Amplify voices of underrepresented women  
• Collaborate to present at RACE Alliance Round Table Sessions 

“Life with Cancer recognizes that the need for this work has never been more profound and is eager to empower our team members and the patients and loved ones we serve with the knowledge and tools necessary to affect lasting and impactful change,” added Bires.

All Life with Cancer programs and services are open to all adults, teens and children affected by cancer, no matter where treatment is received. Life with Cancer is staffed by skilled oncology nurse navigators, oncology clinical therapists, certified art therapists, certified fitness instructors, certified dietitians, oncology pediatric psychologists and an oncology psychiatrist. The program receives 80 percent of its funding through community philanthropy. 

Tigerlily invites organizations around the world to join Inova Life with Cancer and many others in showing their support by signing the #InclusionPledge. Visit Tigerlily Foundation’s website to learn how you can collaborate with us to make a difference. To learn more about Life with Cancer, visit lifewithcancer.org.   

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About the #InclusionPledge  

The #InclusionPledge provides a transparent and tangible framework across multiple healthcare sectors to identify and track equitable actions that will result in measurable and improved outcomes for women of color facing a breast cancer diagnosis. 

About Tigerlily Foundation  

Tigerlily Foundation is a national breast cancer organization whose mission is to educate, empower, support, and advocate for young women ages 15 to 45 before, during, and after breast cancer. Tigerlily Foundation is dedicated to ending disparities of age, stage and color. 

To learn more, visit http://tigerlilyfoundation.org, follow on Twitter @TigerlilyCares, on Instagram at Tigerlily_Foundation and on Facebook at Tigerlily Foundation. Email inclusionpledge@tigerlilyfoundation.org to learn how you and your organization can be a part of social justice by taking the #InclusionPledge and work with us to end disparities for Black women.

About Inova Life with Cancer

Inova Life with Cancer is Northern Virginia’s leading non-profit organization providing education and psychosocial support to all individuals impacted by cancer through evidence-based holistic care at no cost, no matter where treatment is received. Life with Cancer offers hundreds of in person, virtual and hybrid classes and support groups per month, nurse navigation, nutritional consultations, therapeutic and art counseling, special workshops and expert talks, and mind-body/wellness programs and services for patients, survivors, and their loved ones to improve their quality of life and help them cope with cancer, its treatments, and survivorship in the best possible way. All services are generously funded by our community of individual, foundation, and corporate donors. To learn more, visit www.lifewithcancer.org, and connect with Life with Cancer on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.