Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Black Women Who Have Been Affected By The Disease

Stars Who Have Battled Breast Cancer
FILE - This June 26, 2012 file image originally released by ABC shows co-host Robin Roberts wearing an armband that covers her pic line chemotherapy treatment, on "Good Morning America," in New York. Roberts is taking a little time off, saying she's feeling the effects of her blood and bone marrow disease. Roberts said Tuesday that she's not feeling too well and would take some time off just to get some vacay. ABC said Roberts would be taking a few weeks of previously scheduled time off, but it came earlier than her planned medical leave for a bone marrow transplant. Roberts announced last month that she has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia. (AP Photo/ABC, Ida Mae Astute)
FILE - This June 26, 2012 file image originally released by ABC shows co-host Robin Roberts wearing an armband that covers her pic line chemotherapy treatment, on "Good Morning America," in New York. Roberts is taking a little time off, saying she's feeling the effects of her blood and bone marrow disease. Roberts said Tuesday that she's not feeling too well and would take some time off just to get some vacay. ABC said Roberts would be taking a few weeks of previously scheduled time off, but it came earlier than her planned medical leave for a bone marrow transplant. Roberts announced last month that she has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia. (AP Photo/ABC, Ida Mae Astute)

Breast cancer affects women of all races and ethnicities, but unfortunately, it has disproportionately affected many women in the black community.

In 2011 it was estimated that 6,040 black women would die from breast cancer, a statistic that is significantly higher than the mortality rates of women of other races. However, this year has seen many breakthroughs that are monumental steps towards finding a cure.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month here are several black women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. Some of these women are survivors, some have passed away, but they all deserve recognition for their effort to battle this difficult disease.

Hoda Kotb

Celebrities Who Battled Breast Cancer

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