By Javacia Harris Bowser | The Birmingham Times
Breast cancer awareness took center stage at a Women’s History Month event hosted on Wednesday by the Jefferson County Commission.
Commissioner Sheila Tyson, with Commission President Jimmie Stephens and Commissioner Lashunda Scales, partnered with Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies to highlight cancer-related legislation, stress the importance of mammograms and present donations to several local organizations supporting breast cancer care. Other elected officials and local health care providers were also in attendance.
District Attorney Lynneice O. Washington shared a personal story illustrating the importance of mammograms.
“It was because of early detection and my faith that I am here today,” Washington, a breast cancer survivor, said.
She went on to remind the audience that 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
“That’s why organizations such as Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies are so important in this community,” Washington said. “It allows women of color who would otherwise not have the opportunity to have basic mammograms to check on themselves.”
Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies
Founded in 2010, Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering breast cancer survivors—especially women of color—through education, support, and advocacy. Additionally, BBBB offers outreach, awareness, and early detection programs for underserved communities.
BBBB made contributions to several organizations at Wednesday’s event, including the following:
- Birmingham Black Nurses Association ($500 – Scholarship Assistance Award)
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama ($1000)
- Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital – Women’s Diagnostic Center ($1,250 for 10 Mammograms)
- Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center ($500)
- Sister Survivors ($250)
- Her Fight is Our Fight ($250)
- UAB St. Vincent’s Foundation ($1,250 for 10 Mammograms)
Important Legislation
Al Holt from the office of Senator Linda Coleman-Madison highlighted Alabama Senate Bill 177 (SB177), which would require health benefit plans to cover supplemental breast imaging—such as MRIs, ultrasounds, and contrast-enhanced mammograms — for individuals with breast abnormalities. SB177, which was sponsored by Senator Coleman-Madison, passed the Senate in February.
Earlier this year, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, who represents Alabama’s 7th District, celebrated the passage of the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act. Named for Congresswoman Sewell’s late mother, who died from pancreatic cancer in 2021, and co-led by Sewell and Congressman Jodey Arrington of Texas, this legislation allows for Medicare coverage and payment for multi-cancer early detection screening tests that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
To cap off Wednesday’s event, Commissioners Tyson, Stephens and Scales presented Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies with a $15,000 donation to support the work the organization does for breast cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones.
Individuals interested in getting involved with Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies are encouraged to attend a volunteer workshop set for Saturday, March 21, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the McAlpine Park Recreation Center, 1115 Avenue F, Birmingham, AL 35218.
