With the arrival of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital (MLKCH) has partnered with non profit organization Triple Step Toward the Cure to raise awareness about an aggressive form of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is a subtype of breast cancer where three typical cell receptors that usually fuel most breast cancers and are used as targets for treatment are missing. This cancer does not respond to hormonal therapy, which makes chemotherapy, radiation and surgery current treatment options.
MLKCH’s collaboration with the Triple Step organization supports the hospital’s goals of ensuring access to care; educating the community about their health care options; providing opportunities for health care enrollment; and focusing on overall health and wellness.
According to Dr. Elaine Batchlor, CEO of MLKCH, the partnership with Triple Step will allow both organizations to focus on building awareness, providing resources and developing a support system for women of color in the South L.A. community. “This is just one brick in the foundation to increasing awareness about women’s health issues and the hospital’s goal to build a healthier community,” said Dr. Batchlor. “We want to help bring this issue to the forefront of the breast cancer discussion with the hope that more awareness and resources will be generated.”
TNBC occurs in women of any age, race or ethnicity, but young women and women of color are at particular risk. To help raise funds for the organization’s resource program that assists women diagnosed with TNBC, Triple Step Toward the Cure is holding its fifth annual Stepping Towards the Cure 5K Run/Walk on Oct. 4 at Alondra Park in Lawndale.
For more information about MLKCH, visit www.mlkcommunityhospital.org and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at YourMLKCH. Additional information about Triple Step Toward the Cure and the upcoming 5K Run/Walk, can be found at www.triplesteptowardthecure.org.
