Get Started

Ohio Designates March as Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Month: A Tribute to Resilience and Progress

March 3, 2025

When you hear the words “You have cancer”, time stops. Everything changes in an instant. Your mind races. Your heart pounds. The air leaves your lungs. For women diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of breast cancer, this moment is even more terrifying.

As a TNBC survivor, advocate, and activist, I had the privilege of testifying in support of Ohio House Bill 28, urging lawmakers to recognize March as TNBC Awareness Month in Ohio. This was not just about passing a bill. It was about giving a voice to those battling this disease and ensuring real change. Thanks to the dedication of survivors, advocates, and medical professionals, HB28 passed unanimously. This means that starting March 20, 2025, TNBC will have a dedicated month of awareness and advocacy in Ohio (Ohio Legislature).

This milestone is a victory that I helped happen with my testimony at the Ohio State House, but it is only the beginning. Awareness alone is not enough when lives are still being lost at an alarming rate. Women across Ohio and beyond continue to face disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and survival rates.

March 3rd: Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day

In addition to the month-long recognition of TNBC Awareness Month, March 3rd, 2025, is officially recognized as Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day (TNBC Day). This day serves as a dedicated moment to amplify awareness, raise crucial funds, and support groundbreaking TNBC research.

According to the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation, TNBC Day is designed to “bring together patients, survivors, caregivers, and supporters to shine a spotlight on this aggressive form of breast cancer” (TNBC Foundation).

Events Happening on TNBC Day and Throughout March

The TNBC Foundation has organized several virtual events to engage, educate, and support those affected by TNBC. Some of the key events include:

  • Monday, March 3rd – 10:30 AM ET – TNBC Day 2025 Kick-Off on Instagram LIVE Join TNBC Foundation Executive Director, Hayley Dinerman, alongside Ricki Fairley, Founder and CEO of Touch, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and Melissa Berry, Founder of Cancer Fashionista, as they officially launch TNBC Awareness Month. They will discuss the importance of early detection, funding research, and how supporters can get involved. Watch live on Instagram.
  • Tuesday, March 4th – 7:00 PM ET – Tuesdays with TNBC Friends – Special TNBC Month Edition! A community-driven Zoom meet-up for TNBC patients and survivors, moderated by TNBC Thriver Dania Francis. Participants will share experiences, discuss treatment options, and support one another through open conversations. Register here.
  • Wednesday, March 5th – 6:00 PM ET – The Doctor Is In – Featuring TV and Film Actress, Toks Olagundoye Actress Toks Olagundoye, a TNBC Thriver and TNBC Day Ambassador, will join BlackDoctor.org for a special edition of The Doctor Is In to discuss her personal TNBC journey, treatment insights, and the power of self-advocacy in cancer care. Watch on Facebook – BlackDoctor.org.

A Powerful Fundraising Initiative for TNBC Research

Throughout March, 100% of all donations received by the TNBC Foundation from individual donors will be “dedicated exclusively to TNBC-specific research” (TNBC Foundation).

This initiative ensures that every dollar raised goes directly toward advancing scientific breakthroughs, improving treatment options, and ultimately working toward a cure for TNBC patients. The foundation encourages individuals to donate and spread awareness by participating in fundraising efforts across social media and in their communities.

How You Can Support TNBC Day

  • Attend a Virtual Event – Join survivors, doctors, and advocates in discussions about TNBC and its impact.
  • Make a Donation – Every contribution made in March goes directly to TNBC research.
  • Share on Social Media – Use #TNBCDay and #WeDeserveToLive to raise awareness.
  • Encourage Others to Get Screened – Early detection is a key factor in improving survival rates.

TNBC Day is more than just a day of recognition. It is a global movement pushing for change, research advancements, and a future where no one has to fear a TNBC diagnosis without hope for better treatments and outcomes.

For more details and to participate, visit TNBC Foundation.

The Reality of a TNBC Diagnosis

Imagine sitting in an exam room, waiting for your doctor to walk in with your biopsy results. You are gripping the chair so tightly that your hands go numb. Then, the words come.

“You have Triple Negative Breast Cancer. We need to act fast.”

You do not know what TNBC is, but the way your doctor says it makes your stomach drop. You learn that it is an aggressive form of cancer that does not respond to hormone therapy and has limited treatment options. You hear words like “fast-growing” and “high recurrence rate.” You are suddenly in a fight for your life, but you are already exhausted.

And now, in 2025, with federal programs being slashed left and right, you have even fewer options for care, research, and support than those who came before you.

How is this acceptable?

TNBC in Ohio: The Numbers Behind the Pain

Ohio has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rates in the country. But these statistics do not just represent numbers. They represent mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends.

Breast Cancer Mortality Rates (2015–2019):

  • White women: 21.0 per 100,000
  • Black women: 27.8 per 100,000

Black women in Ohio are dying from breast cancer at significantly higher rates than white women, despite being diagnosed at similar rates (Ohio Department of Health).

They are less likely to have access to early detection, genetic testing, and cutting-edge clinical trials. These barriers are not just frustrating. They are deadly.

The Call to Action: We Need More Than Awareness

Demanding Policy Change

It is not enough to simply raise awareness. Action is necessary. I am calling on policymakers, healthcare providers, and insurers to:

  • Fund biomarker testing for all TNBC patients. Biomarker testing helps doctors determine the most effective treatment for an individual patient. It should be a universal standard of care, not a privilege for those who can afford it.
  • Expand insurance coverage for early screenings and genetic testing. The earlier TNBC is caught, the better the chances of survival. Yet, many insurance companies still fail to cover essential screenings for high-risk patients.
  • Invest in TNBC-specific research and clinical trials. TNBC has fewer treatment options than other breast cancers. The only way to change that is through dedicated funding for TNBC research and incentives for drug development.
  • Address racial disparities in breast cancer care. Black women should not be dying at disproportionately higher rates because of systemic barriers in healthcare. Every woman, regardless of race or income, deserves equal access to life-saving treatment.

Legislators must act now. The lives of future generations depend on it.

The Role of Corporations and Philanthropy

Large corporations, foundations, and nonprofit organizations have the power to make real change by supporting TNBC research, early detection programs, and patient advocacy.

Companies Making an Impact

  • Genentech – A leader in cancer research investing in TNBC clinical trials and biomarker studies (Genentech).
  • Pfizer’s “Get It Done” Campaign – A national awareness initiative encouraging early detection of TNBC in Black women (Pfizer).
  • The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation – A nonprofit dedicated exclusively to TNBC research and advocacy, funding groundbreaking studies and patient support (TNBC Foundation).

If more corporations invest in TNBC research and early detection, we can change the trajectory of this disease.

TNBC is Not Just a Women’s Fight: The Impact on Men

Although breast cancer is primarily associated with women, men can also develop TNBC.

While rare, male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses, and because it is less common, men often face delays in diagnosis. This leads to worse survival rates due to late-stage detection.

Men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are at an increased risk of developing TNBC. Yet, most men are never screened for genetic mutations, even if they have a strong family history of breast cancer.

We must ensure that:

  • Men with high-risk genetic markers have access to routine screening.
  • Male breast cancer patients receive early and aggressive treatment.
  • Awareness campaigns include men in breast cancer discussions.

Final Words: We Deserve to Live

For every woman who has just been diagnosed with TNBC, I see you. I feel your fear, your confusion, your pain.

For every family watching their loved one suffer, I stand with you.

For every woman who fought and lost the battle, I honor you.

For every survivor, every advocate, and every person fighting to make sure no one else suffers in silence, I fight beside you.

We deserve better.

We deserve to live.

As we recognize Women’s History Month this March, let us not only honor the women who paved the way before us but also take action for the women fighting today. This moment is about more than remembering history. It is about shaping a future where no woman has to fight this battle alone.

We must stand up. We must stand strong. We must remain diligent in the fight for justice, equity, and the right to live.

Sources

Ohio Legislature – House Bill 28 (HB28)

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation – TNBC Day and Events

  • Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation. (2025). TNBC Day and Virtual Events 2025.
  • Quote: “bring together patients, survivors, caregivers, and supporters to shine a spotlight on this aggressive form of breast cancer.”
  • Quote: “100% of all donations received by the TNBC Foundation from individual donors will be ‘dedicated exclusively to TNBC-specific research.’”
  • Retrieved from: https://tnbcfoundation.org/about-us/our-events/tnbc-day/virtual-events-2025

Ohio Department of Health – Breast Cancer Disparities in Ohio

Genentech – TNBC Research and Clinical Trials

Pfizer – TNBC Awareness and Early Detection Campaign

  • Pfizer. (2025). Pfizer’s “Get It Done” Campaign for TNBC Awareness.
  • Retrieved from: https://www.pfizer.com/

American Cancer Society – The Importance of Biomarker Testing

AP News – Federal Cuts Impacting Cancer Clinical Trials

People Magazine – Shyamala Gopalan Harris and Breast Cancer Research

National Women’s History Alliance – History of Women’s History Month

Meet the Author

Shanise Pearce

Shanise Pearce is a leader, advocate, and speaker empowering communities through corporate leadership, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and her journey as a Triple Negative Breast Cancer survivor, which inspired The Advocate’s Table – an organization to champion early detection and health equity.

Read More
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *