The Black Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Sanctuary is the first and only TNBC resource for the Black community, by the Black community
TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Partners Launch the Black TNBC Sanctuary Resource Hub
Emily Powers |TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance | emily@touchbbca.org
TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance (TOUCHBBCA)—in collaboration with the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and Nueva Vida—has launched the Black TNBC Sanctuary website.
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Black TNBC Sanctuary was made possible with grant funding from Gilead Sciences and seeks to be a safe and trusted home for Black and Afro-Latina individuals diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer and their loved ones. This new online resource hub is designed as a comprehensive support system, offering vital information, resources, and community connections tailored to the needs of those navigating a TNBC diagnosis.
With the input of over 50 Black TNBC patients, survivors, and thrivers, the Black TNBC Sanctuary was built from the lived experience of the Black and Afro-Latina TNBC community. “Not much has changed on the internet since I was diagnosed with TNBC in 2011,” explains Ricki Fairley, CEO and co-founder of TOUCHBBCA. “Dr. Google is still not our friend with regard to information on TNBC. If you search the words TNBC and Black, you’re inundated with dire statistics, but no resources.” Black individuals are at least two times more likely to be diagnosed with TNBC than their white counterparts and face the lowest survival rate of TNBC, compared to other races. Black women with breast cancer are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. This may be due to the fact that Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with TNBC, which tends to be more aggressive than other subtypes.
“We are ecstatic that Gilead trusted TOUCHBBCA and our incredible collaborators to build this critical, comprehensive, one-of-a-kind resource for Black individuals with TNBC and their families,” continues Ricki Fairley. “We have worked diligently to provide best in class resources to make BlackTNBCSanctuary.org THE place for Black TNBC Blessties to find information and support.”
“We are thrilled to be a part of the newly launched Black TNBC Sanctuary,” says Hayley Dinerman, Executive Director of the TNBC Foundation. “As the leading advocacy group for the TNBC community, it is crucial for us to address the unique challenges faced by diverse groups within our community. Black and Afro-Latina women, in particular, encounter significant hurdles, including a notably higher risk of TNBC. We are proud to contribute to this essential initiative and support the empowerment and well-being of Black individuals facing this disease."
In addition to being grounded in the community, the Black TNBC Sanctuary also underwent rigorous scientific and medical review. Both AACR and an esteemed scientific advisory board made up of the preeminent doctors in Black TNBC ensured that the website’s content reflects the highest standard of scientific knowledge on TNBC. "At the intersection of courage and care, the AACR stands proud in collaboration with TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, and Nueva Vida,” says Mitch Stoller, Chief Philanthropic Officer & Vice President of Development at the AACR Foundation. “Together, we forge the path towards equity in health, empowering those impacted by triple negative breast cancer. The 'Black TNBC Sanctuary' resource hub is not just a project; it's a beacon of hope and a testament to our commitment to illuminate every journey with support, knowledge, and strength."
Notably, the Black TNBC Sanctuary serves all Black individuals diagnosed with TNBC, including Afro-Latinas. The entirety of the website is offered in English and Spanish. “Limited research exists among Afro-Latinas with TNBC. What a blessing that finally, a TNBC resource hub exists for Spanish-speaking Afro-Latinas,” says Laura A. Logie, PhD, Director of Research at Nueva Vida. “Nueva Vida recognizes the Black TNBC Sanctuary as a culturally agile source of rich information. We welcome you! Le damos la bienvenida.”
This unprecedented project was made possible by the generous support and partnership of Gilead Sciences, a fierce leader in championing and investing in the Black TNBC community. “At Gilead, we recognize that patients often face challenges in accessing the best possible care and that additional, critical resources are needed,” said Carmen Villar, Vice President, Public Affairs. “This resource hub, specifically tailored to Black and Afro-Latina patients and their loved ones, will help make strides toward health equity for Black people impacted by TNBC.”
About TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance
TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance seeks to advance critical, life-saving science for Black breast cancer survivors/thrivers and drive the collaborative efforts of the breast cancer ecosystem—patients, survivors, advocates, advocacy organizations, health care professionals, researchers, and pharmaceutical companies—to work collectively, with accountability, towards the common goal of eradicating Black Breast Cancer.
About the TNBC Foundation
The TNBC Foundation is known throughout the triple negative breast cancer community as the most trusted source for TNBC-specific information and resources, demonstrated by its deep engagement from and dedicated relationship to the community. The TNBC Foundation is the credible source for triple negative breast cancer information, a catalyst for science and patient advocacy, and a caring community with meaningful services for patients and their families.
About AACR
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the first and largest cancer research organization dedicated to accelerating the conquest of cancer. The mission of the American Association for Cancer Research is to prevent and cure cancer through research, education, communication, collaboration, science policy and advocacy, funding for cancer research. Through its programs and services, the AACR fosters research in cancer and related biomedical science; accelerates the dissemination of new research findings among scientists and others dedicated to the conquest of cancer; promotes science education and training; and advances the understanding of cancer etiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment throughout the world.
About Nueva Vida
Nueva Vida’s mission is to inform, support, and empower Latinas whose lives are affected by cancer as one of the few community-based nonprofits providing free, comprehensive, and culturally competent services along the cancer continuum in Spanish.
About Gilead Sciences
Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer, and inflammation. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, Calif.
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