Mother, daughter talk about breast cancer

A decade ago, Elkins Park accountant Anita Conner barely talked about her bout with breast cancer outside the doctor's office.

She was afraid that clients would find out, and she wanted to spare her family the sadness and worry.

But 10 years later, Conner shares her story, and when she does, she encourages her 33-year-old daughter to do the same. Kerri Conner, who is also an accountant, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April, and the mother-daughter team have found a calling in straight talk about the disease.

The Conners are the force behind a three-year-old initiative to encourage a dialogue about breast-cancer awareness in the sometimes reticent atmosphere of the black church.

"I believe our churches need to be held responsible, no matter how uncomfortable it feels," said Anita Conner, 52. "Most pastors are men and I think they are scared to talk about breasts in the pulpit - unless somebody gives them permission."

The Conners are hoping that their "Praise is the Cure" campaign will encourage clergy and others in the church to feel comfortable raising awareness about a disease that African American women die of at higher rates than other ethnic groups.

Tomorrow, about 50 churches in the area will participate in the campaign by distributing information about breast cancer, encouraging women to get tested and celebrating survivors in the congregations.

The campaign will continue through Thursday with an event at Mount Airy Church of God in Christ in West Oak Lane that will include free mammograms and health screenings. A free reception will be held for area breast-cancer survivors, and a gospel concert will cap the evening. Proceeds from the concert will benefit Praise is the Cure, which the Conners plan to continue annually.

"The church is the place where you can find masses of African American women," said Bishop Ernest Morris Sr. of the Mount Airy church. "This is one of the best places to do this. And, I have a personal interest"

Morris' first wife, Sylvia, died of breast cancer in 1975 at age 45. Earlier this year, Morris' 47 year-old daughter Carla Greene, of Oreland, was told she had breast cancer. Greene had a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction.

African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at lower rates than white women, but have a higher mortality rate, said Edith P. Mitchell, coauthor of

Racial Differences in Cancer: A Comparison of Black and White Adults in the United States

.

Tumors in African American women tend to be more aggressive, said Mitchell, of Thomas Jefferson University.

Tomorrow, the Rev. Charles Quann of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Penllyn will encourage testing and say special prayers for those who have died and those who are surviving.

Churches haven't done enough to raise awareness, Quann said. He cites obstacles including the tendency to separate theology from health in the pulpit.

And there's the omnipotence factor.

There are still people who believe that illness is a punishment from God, said Quann. And believers see God as the supreme healer. "I believe that," Quann said, "but at the same time I believe he equips physicians with skill, knowledge and wisdom [to treat illness]."

Some people avoid testing because they just don't want to know, Quann said.

Those who avoid testing are actually "saying they don't have confidence that the Almighty God can empower them over any circumstance," said Bishop Jeffrey Leath, of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia.

Leath, whose wife, Susan, is a physician, will focus on breast-cancer awareness on Sunday at Mother Bethel.

Across town, the Rev. Wilhelmina White will be dressed in pink, the movement's signature color.

The associate pastor of Acts of the Apostles Church in Jesus Christ in North Philadelphia will talk not only to women, but to their men.

"I tell the men to see about their wives, sisters, mothers, aunts," White said. "If [the women] are so busy that they forget to look on the calendar for the appointments, then you look on the calendar."

To learn more or to register for a free mammogram or the survivors' reception, call 215-635-1025 or visit

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