HOLLI W. HAYNIE WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DEE DEE TATE

Watching women die from breast cancer because they put feeding their family ahead of treatment is a choice Gwendolyn Brown thinks no one should ever have to make. That's why 20 years ago Brown, an oncology social worker with UT Medical Group, started the Carin' and Sharin' Breast Cancer Education and Support Group for economically disadvantaged minority women.

"It's simply unacceptable that these women should have to choose between money for their families and the possibility of an untimely death," Brown said, recalling the story of a bus driver who refused treatment because she couldn't afford to take off work. "As long as I'm alive no woman is going to have to choose between getting treatment and making a living."

Through her work with inner-city African American women, Brown, who is not a breast cancer survivor herself, has seen these same scenarios play out time and again. The majority of members come into the group already in stages 3 and 4, typically have never had a mammogram before finding the tumor, and most of them unaware of available resources and unable to pay for vital treatments.

"These women are ignored, overlooked and underserved," noted Brown. "They die horrible deaths because of ignorance. We want to educate and empower them."

Black women are more likely to die of breast cancer than any other ethnic group. According to the National Cancer Institute, in the United States white women have the highest incidence of breast cancer; yet black women are most likely to die from the disease. Black women under age 50 are 77 percent more likely to die from the disease than white women of all ages.

Carin' and Sharin' was the first group dedicated to supporting economically disadvantaged, African-American women with breast cancer in Tennessee. It is open to women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer, have relapsed, and survivors.

Support services include monthly meetings, which occur seven times annually in Memphis and Fayette County. Meetings help educate women on locating community services, the latest news in treatment and research, and personal healthcare tips like proper nutrition and exercise. The program also holds special events and is present at health fairs to raise awareness about breast health and self-breast exams. To cast a wider net they distribute educational materials to beauty and nail salons, churches, medical offices, senior centers, and mammography sites.

A major component of the program is focused on providing members with financial resources to cover basic needs while they receive treatment, such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities and groceries.

"We are committed to alleviating a patient's financial worries so she can concentrate on her treatment and getting well," Brown said.

They work with each patient to make sure she has first exhausted the resources of community agencies like CSA, MIFA, and even their churches. After they use up their qualified resources from these agencies, Carin' and Sharin' takes over providing financial assistance for approved members.

"This is not an automatic handout," asserted Brown. "Carin' and Sharin' requires that those requesting financial assistance attend at least three monthly meetings and continue involvement thereafter."

The program relies on volunteer time, in-kind donations and sponsorship support. Brown has two assistants, Judy Seals-Togbo and Lillie Hughey, both full-time social workers and breast cancer survivors. A true labor of love, these three ladies spend almost all of their time after work and on weekends taking calls on the HOT PINK LINE, their hotline for information and referrals. When they're not taking calls, they're planning meetings and events, and enrolling women for financial assistance.

"We need more volunteers," stressed Brown. "We're stretched beyond what you can believe."

Brown formed the parent organization, Urban Health Education and Support Services (UHESS) in 2002 as a non-profit to provide oversight and resources for the Carin' and Sharin' program. A principle part of the funding is provided by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. They also receive funding and in-kind donations from local and state organizations like the Breast Cancer Eradication Initiative, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and the Church Health Center.

Staying focused on the bigger picture, Brown understands the reasons the African American population is not getting regular mammograms, both on a cultural and emotional levels. Some of the biggest hurdles to reaching these women deal with a shift of perception. Explained Brown, there is a lack of importance placed on breast health, a lack of confidence toward the medical community and a lack of knowledge on breast cancer risks and available resources.

Before she attended a group meeting, Carin' and Sharin' member Rosie Bell, "didn't know that anyone offered free mammograms." Now she tells everyone she can about such free community resources.

Member Alesia Payne added, "The group has provided me education, support, friendship, and, most of all, hope when that was hard to find. Many of the other members are survivors who encourage us and make us know that you can beat cancer. They give us strength, compassion, and wisdom to win this battle against cancer."

One of their newest programs is a special skit, written and performed by Brown, called "Hats Off to Breast Cancer," which she performs at local churches and community centers. The skit offers comic relief, but the theme is focused on the importance of good health today, not tomorrow. It exposes many of the reasons black women don't get mammograms – from cultural paradigms to common fears – all in an effort to emphasize the critical importance of regular screenings and health checkups.

Other community outreach initiatives include "Pamper with a Purpose," a city-wide program directed at educating younger African American women about breast cancer. This event treats women to a day of pampering, food, entertainment and education.

The growth of Carin' and Sharin' over the past 20 years has led to various spin-off support groups and educational initiatives. It has also allowed for the expansion to other minority groups such as the Hispanic population, and even non-minorities, with the number of regular attending members increasing each year.

Ultimately, the dedication of Brown and her volunteers grows everyday, with each funeral they attend, with each woman who loses the support of her boyfriend or husband, with each story coming in on the hotline.

"My passion comes from watching women die," maintained Brown. "I can't stand it. I believe we are meant to take care of each other. I know what we're doing is right. My strength comes from there."

Brown welcomes referrals from local doctors and health clinics. Any patient or family member can call the HOT PINK LINE (901-484-9624) or visit their website, www.carinsharin.org for more information.