October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to come together, raise awareness and champion the importance of early detection. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, accounting for roughly 30% of all new female cancers each year, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2025, more than 310,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, and more than 42,000 women will die from the disease.
The good news: early detection saves lives! The five-year relative survival rate for localized (early-stage) breast cancer is 99%, compared to 91% across all stages. Detecting cancer early gives women more treatment options and better outcomes. But for too many women—particularly women of color in Memphis—access to mammograms remains out of reach.
How You Can Help
At West Cancer Foundation, we believe every woman deserves access to life-saving screenings, no matter her financial situation. That’s why the Foundation provides free breast screenings and mammograms to women across the Mid-South who otherwise couldn’t afford them. We’ll even provide a free ride to and from the screening for women who lack reliable transportation.
To support this vital service, we launched our Give a ‘Gram campaign allowing anyone to help give a mammogram to a woman in need. For as little as $20, you can help give a woman the best possible chance for early detection and effective treatment. These screenings can truly be the difference between life and death for someone’s mother, sister, wife or friend.
A Disproportionate Burden in Memphis
Memphis ranks second—tied with Chicago— among the top 10 U.S. metro areas with the largest racial disparities in breast cancer mortality. Atlanta was in the top spot. According to the Susan G. Komen Closing the Gap initiative, the mortality rate for Black women in Shelby County is 31.8 deaths per 100,000, compared with the national average of 26.8 deaths per 100,000 for Black women overall.
These statistics underscore a heartbreaking reality: Black women in Memphis are dying from breast cancer at higher rates than their White counterparts, often due to barriers in preventive care, delayed diagnoses, and limited access to consistent screenings. Early detection shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code or income level—but right now, it too often does.
Join Us in the Fight
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s take action! Give a ‘Gram, share the campaign with your friends and family and use #GiveaGram on social media to help spread the word.
Together, we can close the gap in breast cancer outcomes, ensure more women get the care they need and give our community the greatest gift of all—the gift of early detection.
