Hip Hop & Soul Queen Mary J. Blige talks about losing...

Mary J. Blige shares the impact the loss of her aunt to breast cancer had on her; it left a lasting impression. She has been a huge hit on the charts for decades and every fan of hip hop and R&B knows her songs by heart. The nine-time Grammy Award winner now talks about breast cancer awareness and does so in her typical style: vulnerable, direct, and most importantly, real.

The singer from “Real Love” announced CBS this morning“I lost my aunt to breast cancer,” she said seriously. “And that’s what comes to my mind when I go to my annual appointments.”

Related: In the midst of the stage 4 breast cancer battle, Shannen Doherty shares information every woman should know about the disease

Blige continues, “However, I haven’t let myself be stopped from my health, and that shouldn’t stop you. Black women are often very private – we don’t want people to know our business. But the more we open up, the more we can share information that can save lives. ”

Blige tells CBS this morning Hostess Gayle King: “I was a little nervous. [And was wondering] is [the mammogram] will hurt? But once I did it, it was about wanting more information about my body. If I can see it I can change it. It’s about knowledge – knowledge is power. A mammogram can save your life, and that’s why I’m here. ”

The more you know about your body, the stronger you will be as a Blige. And there’s more to do with the next steps if you get a breast cancer diagnosis after your mammogram.

The importance of mammograms

King shares that Blige had her first mammogram in her forties and didn’t know what to expect. “I know this moment,” says King. “You go into this room, look at this machine and say, ‘You’re going to squeeze something with what? ‘“King explains how daunting the mammography process can be.

When should I have a mammogram?

Taking your annual mammograms is key to early detection and treatment. Blige urged her followers on Instagram to follow her example and get their mammograms. “I am proud to encourage all black women to take annual mammograms from the age of 40 and provide women in underserved communities with access to superior breast cancer screening technology.”

Racial Differences in Breast Cancer

Blige also shared some key facts about life in America for black women on her Instagram. The legendary singer wrote: “Did you know that black women are almost 40 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women?”

Related: Bridge the Gap: Racial Differences in Cancer Treatment Are Disastrous – Let’s Change Things Up

This is a sad, terrible truth about the differences that exist in the US when it comes to cancer care and treatment for black people – and it has to change. These differences are the result of racism, economic oppression, and sometimes genetic and biological differences that can lead to higher breast cancer mortality rates in black women.

And it’s not just breast cancer either. The cancer death rate among black people is higher for many types of cancer. Black men are over 50% more likely to die from prostate cancer than their counterparts.

Related Topics: Minorities Missing Lifesaving Cancer Treatment and Clinical Trials: 4 Changes Are Needed to Address This Issue

For black women and breast cancer, highlighting this inequality is key to transforming them, as is access to good care.

As Blige, King and many others continue to speak out on this matter, it is up to all of us to do our part in the fight for full health care equality.

The breast cancer surgeon explicitly sets out ways in which we can close the gap in terms of racial disparity: “Access to care is the key!”

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