Karen Jackson
We Dare You!
The best defense against breast cancer starts with you. Dare to take charge of your health. Sisters Network Inc. recommends you look for warning signs and see a doctor right away if you notice:
A lump, hard knot or thickening in the breast
Swelling, redness or increased warmth in the breast
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Itchy, sore or scaling area on the nipple/areola
Nipple discharge (particularly if bloody) that starts suddenly
Pulling in of the nipple (inverted nipple) or nipple change direction (retracted nipple)
Dimpling or puckering of the skin on the breast
Unusual pain in an area of the breast
For more breast health information visit www.sistersnetworkinc.org.
A Survivor's Story
Knowing that breast cancer ran in her family, Karen Jackson took every precaution to protect herself. At age 35, she had her initial mammogram, and although year after year the results came back clean, she continued to be wary. “You know that voice we all have, if we take time and listen, it can help us in many ways. I wasn’t in pain, but I knew there was something there that was nagging me,’ says Karen. Because of her family history she convinced her doctor to send her for alternative tests. That’s when an ultrasound revealed she had a lump that had gone undetected for years.
When she heard the news, Jackson’s life instantly changed. “I shut down. I was very fortunate that my husband and daughter actually took me by the hand and walked me through the next steps.” With the support of her family, she found the best doctors and the right course of treatment that eventually helped her conquer the disease.
Once she moved beyond the initial shock of the diagnosis, this proud 16-year survivor yearned for support, information, and the chance to bond with other women going through the same experience. However, after looking around, she was left disappointed. “I found no type of camaraderie in the services that were available to me. And, as an African American woman with breast cancer, I also encountered negative prejudices that were, and still are, in existence in some of the established groups,” she explained.
Fueled by her personal challenges, Karen channeled her fear and energy into creating Sisters Network Inc. This national organization, dedicated to providing a much-needed sisterhood for African American women, has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in 1994. It now boasts over forty-three local affiliate chapters in 22 States that provide standardized educational programs, support, empowerment and hope. “So much of the information I came across talked about African American women dying. It didn’t talk about life after cancer”, Karen recalls. “I wanted to form an organization that promoted the early detection so that we could survive and have, not only a quality of life, but a happy life.”
This year the organization purchased a national headquarter referred to as the “Sister House” in Houston, Texas. From this new facility, Jackson is focusing on the future. The organization is now seeking to impart change on a larger scale through projects like The Gift for Life Block Walk, a grass roots community effort which sends teams of volunteers door-to-door to educate women about breast health/cancer and direct them to affordable testing facilities. Sister Network also hosts the only accredited national African American Breast Cancer Conference, which for over 11 years has drawn survivors and health professionals from around the country. And in April 2010, Sisters will kick off the first National African American Breast Cancer 5K Walk/Run, to be held on the second day of the annual conference.
Karen turned her pain/fear into purpose and has found her life’s calling by helping countless breast cancer survivors. “I hope my experience can inspire others to follow their vision. I feel very blessed that I was chosen to start a national organization without any funding, knowledge, or previous experience by stepping out on faith. I’m proud and thankful that my vision has been received so well.”