You already know her. Maybe you are her.
She is the one who made sure everybody else got to their doctor’s appointment; her kids, her husband, her mama, but somehow never made it to her own. She felt something was off, but kept moving because stopping was not an option.
She told herself she would go when things slowed down. When the kids got older. When work let up. When she had better insurance. When she felt worse.
But that is exactly the problem. By the time many Black women feel worse, the window for early intervention has already narrowed.
“A lot of times we’re so worried about our family and everybody else that we don’t take time to take care of ourselves,” said Dr. Rebecca Burke, a board-certified family medicine physician with Village Medical in Houston. “If we don’t take care of ourselves, no one else is going to.”
Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. African Americans are roughly 20% more likely to develop colon cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it — yet routine colonoscopy screening is as low as 38% among Black patients. And the overall cancer mortality rate is higher for African Americans than for any other racial group in the country.
What stands between Black women and better outcomes is a complicated mix of history, access, cultural conditioning, and the belief that their health can wait.
Medical experts say it cannot.
Warning signs
“A lot of times we’re so worried about our family and everybody else that we don’t take time to take care of ourselves,” said Village Medical board-certified family medicine physician Dr. Rebecca Burke. “You have your husband, your kids, you’re making sure they get their appointments, their dentist visits. And then we completely forget to take care of ourselves.”
Black women face specific health risks, including cardiovascular disease, fibroids, endometriosis, and late-stage diagnoses of breast cancer. Early detection of these conditions is crucial for effective management, whereas late detection can lead to severe consequences.
“There are certain screenings you need starting at 21,” Burke said. “Really, just get a doctor you feel comfortable with as early as possible and make sure you’re seeing them every year.”
Cervical cancer screening begins at 21. Mammograms for average-risk patients start at 40, but for Black women with a family history of breast cancer, that window can open as early as 25. Colon cancer screenings are recommended at 45 for most adults, but earlier if a parent was diagnosed young.
In 2026, the American Cancer Society approved at-home HPV testing, eliminating one of the most common barriers to cervical screening. Colon cancer screenings are similarly driven by family history. If a parent was diagnosed at 40, a patient may need to begin screening at 35 rather than waiting for the standard recommendation of 45.
“The death rate for Black women compared to other racial groups is highest when it comes to what we call the big three: breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer,”
– Dr. Tamika Denson-Willis, internal medicine physician with Village Medical.
“The death rate for Black women compared to other racial groups is highest when it comes to what we call the big three: Breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer,” said Dr. Tamika Denson-Willis, internal medicine physician with Village Medical. “But even when it comes to cardiovascular disease, we have a higher death rate there as well.”
Denson-Willis urges individuals not to dismiss symptoms such as chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and an irregular heart rate, and to consult a primary care doctor if they frequently experience these symptoms.
Additionally, she identifies the issue of chronically heavy periods, which many Black women may consider normal, potentially masking conditions such as anemia, fibroids, or endometriosis. Awareness and communication with healthcare providers are essential for identifying health issues.
“When it comes to being a Black woman, it’s really important to have a physician you can relate to, whether that’s one who looks like you, understands you, or shares your culture,” Denson-Willis said. “It’s easiest to confide in and trust someone with whom you feel there is a connection.”
Know your numbers
Preventative healthcare begins with understanding family medical history and knowing one’s health numbers, regardless of age. Women often neglect mammograms, believing they are unnecessary when feeling healthy, which can lead to serious health issues. Access to healthcare for Black women is affected by logistical barriers such as transportation, insurance, and socioeconomic factors, as well as cultural hesitations rooted in historical discrimination.
Proactive self-advocacy, regular health checks, utilizing available resources, and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers. Resources in Houston include county programs and telemedicine options for affordable care.
“It’s so easy to go throughout life and just put things off until we’re forced to take a pause,” said Renée Omoyeni, MS, BSN, RN, founder and executive director of CompassRN, a Houston-based nursing education nonprofit. “If I don’t think something’s wrong, I don’t really need to get checked out. And I say that even as a nurse.”
Several years ago, she went to a new doctor complaining of elevated blood pressure. Without tracking her numbers over time or exploring lifestyle changes, he immediately prescribed medicine.
“There was no conversation around, ‘Hey, let’s track your blood pressure, let’s see what modifiable things we can do,'” she said. “Just prescribing. I think there’s a lot of fear, and a trust issue with our healthcare system.”
Omoyeni advises women who feel too far behind to start small.
“You don’t have to have everything figured out,” she said. “Take a 10-minute walk. Look up a provider. Find a Black doctor in your area. Just start somewhere, without it being so intimidating that you don’t start at all.”
