Black & BRCA is a collaboration between the Basser Center for BRCA and its team of patient advocates, researchers and healthcare professionals to bring tailored resources and support to the Black community. At a time when Black men and women are more likely than the general population to be diagnosed with cancer at later stages when it is less treatable, Black & BRCA seeks to empower individuals to understand their family health history and take action to prevent cancer from one generation to the next.
Educational Resources
- Common Myths About Cancer and Genetics
- Collect Your Family Cancer History Form (fill out online or print and complete)
- BRCA in Men Fact Sheet
- Basser Mastectomy Surgery Advice Checklist
- Support and Resources
Black & BRCA in the News
- Disparities in Genetic Testing for Cancer Susceptibility
- Raising Awareness of Breast Cancer in the Black Community: A Discussion with Jamila Kinsey
- Why Maya Rockeymoore Cummings Began Her Congressional Campaign with a Double Mastectomy
- Beyoncé’s Dad Has a Mutation More African-Americans Should Be Tested For
- Why Breast Cancer Patients Should Know Their Options for Reconstruction After Surgery
The Basser Center
Founded in 2012 by Penn alumni, Mindy and Jon Gray, the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center is the first comprehensive center for the research, treatment, and prevention of BRCA-related cancers. Devoted to advancing care for people affected by BRCA gene mutations, the Basser Center's unique model provides funding for collaborative research, education and outreach programs around the world. The Basser Center's mission is to see a world free of the devastating effects of BRCA-related cancers and, in doing so, provide a roadmap for curing genetic diseases.
Erika Stallings
Erika Stallings is an attorney, writer and patient advocate based in New York City. In 2014 she learned that she carried a BRCA2 mutation and underwent a preventative mastectomy later that year. Her experience, along with learning about racial disparities in access to and uptake in genetic counseling and testing, motivated her to become an advocate for increasing awareness of hereditary cancer in the Black community. She has written about her experience with genetic testing and living with a BRCA mutation for the New York Times, O Magazine, Jezebel, The Cut, Huffington Post, and Lifetime.com. Erika is a founding co-chair of the Basser Center's Young Leadership Council and partner on the Black & BRCA initiative.