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Black Women & Fibroids the Silent Epidemic that’s Screaming in our Community
Fibroids are more common in African-American women than in women of other racial groups. One study showed that fibroids are three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women. Additionally, fibroids tend to be larger and occur at an earlier age in African-Americans. The Philadelphia Black Women’s Health Project
Instances of fibroids are of epidemic proportions among Black women and yet we are not hearing about this issue in our magazines, television shows or on our blogs. If left untreated or diagnosed too late fibroids can cause heavy and painful menstruation, painful sexual intercourse, urinary frequency, hinder pregnancy and may even lead to a hysterectomy. Black women develop fibroids earlier than their white counterparts and have more sever symptoms. While many feminist groups cry out for reproductive health this issue is ignored, could it be because it affects Black women at disproportionate rates? Like most of America the healthcare system is infected with racism, which means that conditions that affect the Black community are ignored and so like so most issues we have to take matters into our own hands.
What many Black women do not know is that fibroids can be caused by the food we eat and even the hair products we use! But through making healthier eating and product choices many sisters have been able to decrease the size and severity of their fibroids and many have seen them dissipate. The good news is dark leafy greens such as grandma’s collard greens have nutrients that can aid in easing fibroid and PMS symptoms. Other greens such as kale and mustard greens are great choices as well. Exercise and stress management are also key in easing the pain of fibroids and PMS. Many sisters are taking their health into their own hands by seeking out natural remedies, holistic health coaching and turning to spiritual practices to manage stress (which can further aggravate fibroids). This medical epidemic is a justice issue as well because lack of access to healthy foods in our communities, medical racism-where sisters with fibroids are given hysterectomies at higher rates than White women and sexism in the health profession all collide to cause conditions that leave Black women more vulnerable to developing fibroids.
For Your Black World I will be doing a series of post on fibroids and Black Women offering more information on causes, symptoms, holistic health solutions and organizations working for food and health justice in our communities. In the meantime here are some practical steps you can take to care for your health:
1. Find a gynecologist you can trust-don’t be shy about asking for a woman, an African-American or both. Find another doctor if you are not comfortable with your current one.
2. Make sure you have an annual visit to a GYN for a Pap Smear
3. Try to limit processed foods (especially white sugar, flour and white bread)
4. Exercise at least three times a week this can include dancing, walking or even stepping with your sorors!
5. Deal with stress and do not suffer in silence. Journaling, meditation and counseling are all great ways to manage stress.
For more information visit:
Philadelphia Black Women’s Health Project-Black Women & Fibroids
Remember Life is for Living & LOVE is a Choice!
About Onleilove
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Onleilove is currently a Faith Based Community Organizer, workshop facilitator, speaker and writer living in Harlem. After receiving her B.S. in Human Development and African-American Studies from Penn State University she completed a year of service with AmeriCorps. Onleilove recently received her M.Div. and MSW degrees from Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University. In addition to her organizing work she is a member of Alpha Nu Omega, Inc., a historically Black Christian sorority and the Poverty Initiative. Onleilove has worked for various social justice organizations in NYC, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. such as Sojourners (where she was a Beatitudes Society Fellow), W!SE, United Workers and Healthcare-Now!. Her writing has appeared in Sojourners Magazine, The Black Commentator, Conspire! and other publications. Onleilove is one of five siblings with a large extended family. Possessing compassion for people fueled by her passion for justice she believes that the Gospel is “good news to the poor†and will humbly work to proclaim this message in her community. Onleilove blogs about her journey to holistic health, faithful justice and her addiction to thrifting on Wholeness4Love .
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NaturalJoy
February 4, 2012 at 8:58 pm
Being armed with knowledge that is what is vital. thank you. I must admit I know very little about these tumors, I look forward to learning all I can about the possibility of these creatures taking up space in my body.
Joyce Christie-Taylor
February 4, 2012 at 10:38 pm
I was diagnosed with fibroids several times, and opted out of the “surgery option” and went on a “WHEATGRASS FAST” instead. After consuming wheatgrass juice only for about a week, the fibroids fell off and out. How did I know it was the fibroids that fell out, you ask? Because the doctor had shown me a photo of what they looked like, as a way of convincing me that I needed surgery. However, that photo did not work! As I previously stated, I chose to go on a Wheatgrass fast instead, because I had read Ann Wigmore’s famous book about Wheatgrass, and was convinced that a wheatgrass regimen could and would do the job, and indeed it did! Praise God! The Bible does say: “…the leaf of the tree shall be for medicine…” (in this case it was the leaf of the ground).
Anthony Sweet
April 25, 2012 at 10:56 pm
Ms. Taylor,
My wife suffers from fibroids as well and I was wondering if you could email me some info about the Wheatgrass regimen or where I could locate it for her?
My email address is [email protected].
God Bless.
Cyrlene Braithwaite
February 5, 2012 at 3:25 am
Please copuld you send some info, i have got 9 fibroids and finding it difficult to get help from my doctor in the UK. At the moment i am trying marrigold sunlflower as i heard that ir can get rid of them, do you know anything about this?
Ericka Abrams
February 5, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Fibroids are a huge issue in our community. So many of us are dealing with this issue, and suffering in isolation. Many physicians who look like us dismiss the health condition as something that is just to be treated, not cured or prevented.
Our lives are hairied, stressful and depleted of what is real in so many ways. Eat less meat, and more plant based protein like beans and legumes. Eat organic produce. Invest in those organic fruits and veggies that are called the “Dirty Dozen“; those that have the highest pesticide exposure; where you would also consume the skin; apples, peaches, leafy greens, berries’ etc. Fruits and veggies that you peel can be conventionally grown. Stay at a healthy weight. The more body fat you have, the more estrogen you have, which fuels fibroid growth.
Time to get real and take charge of our health for the benefit of ourselves and our families.
Love,
Ericka L. Abrams, MPH, Doctoral student
Public Health Practitioner
Chica
February 6, 2012 at 1:39 pm
It is known that Fribroids is caused by estrogen. Phyloestrogen is the plant version of estrogen. The human body processes phyloestrogen just like it would estrogen. Soy and soy products are rich in phyloestrogen. A lot of American foods have soy and soy products. With that knowledge I am avoiding soy, including soy sauce. As a result, my fibroids are shrinking
June Thompson
February 9, 2012 at 6:26 pm
I have fibroids and you are right, I hear absolutely a deaffening silence on this issue and they don’t care if we drop like flies. Additionally, I have an African American GYN doctor and she even is apart of the system by only offering surgery as an option. I do not want to die an early death as my mother died when I was 31 years old. I want to be here for my children, so I will be following you all to find out what information you come up with and also invited my husband to read the article was well, that brother does not want to see any collard greens as long as he lives because he said he ate too many of them when he was growing up but after reading the article he said, if it will keep my wife healthy, I will join her and eat them too.
Remember, I will take your advice, so please be sure to post. Thanks for bringing this to light and Michael Baisden.
Kim
February 9, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Another very important issue with fibroids and the treatment is many doctors only treat symptoms and never attempt to find out the cause or look into other medical issues a patient may have. I suffered with menstrual disorders from the time I started at 11 years old. I’ve had almost every procedure there is except for a hysterectomy. I refused to have one because of the side effects (drs. do not tell you about). Thirty plus years later, I go to a PCP for low blood and he sends me to a hematologist who tells me I was born with Von Willebrand’s disease, a bleeding disorder similar to hemophilia but not as severe. Had I (and my mom) known, I could’ve avoided some or all of the surgeries I didn’t need such as the Myomectomy, D&C Hysteroscopy, Uterine Artery Embolization (twice), only to still have painful and heavy menses. Surgeries I refused were the Tubalization (what does that have to do with fibroids?!?), Uterine Ablation and Hysterectomy. I thank God I was able to have one child from all of this madness. It is my prayer that someone will be helped from my story and never stop seeking answers for their suffering. DO YOUR RESEARCH!
ketha
February 9, 2012 at 8:08 pm
I do not argue with a change of eating habits will make my fibroids smaller. I went through my anemia dropping to 4.9 and then all I could eat was salad until I had surgery. A month before surgery I counldnt eat any solid food. So I feel the information in your article is misleading. Maybe in some woman it will work but my condition caused me to have 12 transfusions and a hysterectory. See why your article isn’t right.
ketha
February 9, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Make your own decision but make your checking your source
Latrice Miller
February 10, 2012 at 12:17 am
Theres an excellent study looking for young Black Women in the Detroit area in order to learn more about fibroids in black women. They ARE offering compensation for participating. It’s called SELF. Study of Environment Lifestyle and Fibroids.
Go to http://www.detroitself.org
It is a REAL site not SPAM. I used to work on this study.
Onleilove
February 10, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Thank you for sharing your wisdom and comments. For more information see the second post in this series about fibroids and food. Be Blessed!
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Lady A
February 26, 2012 at 5:13 pm
I agree with paying attention to the food we eat. Research shows that soy can mimic estrogen in the body and too much estrogen could be one of the causes of Fibroids. I also think your emotional state can be the cause as well. So after me and one of my best friends got diagnosed with Fiboids, we started on a healing journey. Here is more on what we do to heal ourselves: http://calivegans.com/
Tina
March 22, 2012 at 4:30 am
I am due to see the consultant next week regarding my fibroids with a view to having a uterine embolisation!! Has anyone had this procedure and found a degree of success? I heard Condoleza Rice underwent this process.
Having just read about diet I think I might try the diet first, ensuring that I take adequate supplements i.e. iron, zinc, b6, b12 etc. to balance out what I lose from those foods that I no longer eat. Are there any other types of food to avoid?
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ketha
April 28, 2012 at 11:03 pm
I had a hysterectomy because of my bad anemic.4.9 blood clot no other option but it put me in a deep deep depression and still am not the way I was. Try and make the right decision for you. That operation is something that you can’t go back on. And I am regretting listening to my family to have it done