OWN partners with American Cancer Society to empower Black women’s health through historic study

Black women in the United States are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite being diagnosed at lower rates. This alarming disparity is just one example of the urgent health crisis facing Black women, who also experience higher mortality rates from cervical and colorectal cancers.

In response to these troubling statistics, Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and its health and wellness initiative, OWN Your Health, have announced a transformative partnership with the American Cancer Society to support VOICES of Black Women, a first-of-its-kind, long-term study designed to uncover the social, environmental and healthcare factors driving these disparities.

Launched during the first week of Women’s History Month, the partnership aims to recruit 100,000 Black women, ages 25 to 55, to participate in the groundbreaking study. Through OWN’s expansive reach across television, digital platforms and social media, the campaign will ensure Black women across the country understand how their voices and experiences can fuel life-saving research and reshape the future of cancer prevention, treatment, and survivorship for generations to come.

Through this partnership, OWN Your Health will utilize OWN’s extensive media platforms such as television, social media, and digital channels to assist the VOICES of Black Women campaign in recruiting study participants. The data collected will aid researchers in developing customized solutions to enhance health outcomes and address cancer disparities that have affected Black women for far too long.

Some of the research will explore how lifestyle, environmental factors, social experiences and access to healthcare affect cancer outcomes among Black women.

As part of this powerful new partnership, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will launch OWN.tv/Voices, a dedicated digital hub providing Black women with essential information about the VOICES of Black Women campaign and clear steps to join the study.

This multi-platform campaign brings attention to OWN’s ongoing commitment to elevating health equity and ensuring Black women are not only seen and heard, but also directly involved in research that will ultimately impact their care and outcomes.

Tina Perry, president of Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) COURTESY PHOTO

Tina Perry, president of OWN, highlighted the importance of the partnership.

“We are honored to stand alongside the American Cancer Society in amplifying the VOICES of Black Women campaign,” Perry said.

“Through OWN Your Health, we have the opportunity to leverage the power of OWN’s platform — across television, social media, and digital — to reach Black women directly and empower them with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to prioritize their health.”

For many years, extensive studies have consistently demonstrated that Black women experience disproportionately high cancer mortality rates and exhibit shorter survival periods compared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. These alarming disparities highlight a critical public health issue that warrants urgent attention. Despite the gravity of this situation, Black women continue to be significantly underrepresented in medical research initiatives.

This lack of representation results in vital questions remaining unanswered regarding the unique biological, social and environmental factors that may influence their cancer outcomes. As a consequence, tailored interventions and treatment strategies that could potentially enhance their survival and quality of life are often overlooked.

By leveraging its deep connection to its audience, OWN is uniquely positioned to mobilize Black women across the country, encouraging them to participate in this historic study that will help researchers uncover the root causes of health disparities and develop solutions tailored to the unique needs and lived experiences of Black women.

Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, emphasized the campaign’s urgency.

“The hard truth is that despite advances in cancer research, Black women still face unacceptable disparities in cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival,” Frederick said.

“By directly engaging Black women in this groundbreaking study, we can gain invaluable insights into the factors driving these disparities — and ultimately create more effective, tailored solutions to improve health outcomes.”

To learn more about OWN Your Health, visit OWNYourHealth.tv or follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram and X.

For more information about the VOICES of Black Women campaign or to join the study, visit OWN.tv/Voices.

This article was originally published on Michigan Chronicle.