A new federal analysis shows pregnant women are dying at even higher rates across the U.S. Here's why.In 2006, Tina Brown sat next to a Black colleague at a work meeting who shared she had just been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
"And her response to me was, 'We have got to raise awareness about this disease and how it affects us,'" Brown, 57, recalled."It was literally a pinky swear. I said I would do everything in my power to raise awareness." Hill was in her 40s when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a yearly mammogram, Brown said. Her friend's experience underscores the importance of annual screenings, she said.
Brown estimates she has helped over 15,000 women get free mammograms through her work as a community health worker. She now runs the mobile health program at Arizona Complete Health, a health insurance plan. The mobile health program offers free mammogram, vision, dental and prostate screenings. Brown organizes the events that target underserved communities throughout the state.
One goal of the program is to offer community health worker training to people from underserved communities who might not otherwise be able to afford it, McEntee said.