For Black Women, By Black Women: The VOICES Study is Radically Shaping Cancer Research in Missouri and Beyond

For generations, Black women have carried the weight of our communities on their backs, navigating systems that were never designed to protect us, let alone heal us. The fight for health equity—particularly in the face of cancer disparities—has been a long and lonely road. But now, a groundbreaking initiative is finally stepping up to center our stories, our pain, and most importantly, our resilience. The American Cancer Society’s VOICES of Black Women study is a bold declaration that Black women are not statistics—we are warriors, and this is our fight. Launched to enroll over 100,000 Black women across the nation, including right here in Missouri, VOICES stands as a transformative step toward addressing the systemic neglect that has long plagued our communities. Missouri’s Black women face the harsh reality that we are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than our white counterparts, despite breast cancer being the most commonly diagnosed cancer among all women in the state. The urgency of this initiative cannot be overstated. From Kansas City to St. Louis, the echoes of neglect are loud—but through VOICES, Black women will finally be heard, empowered to shape their own health outcomes. Led by renowned researchers Dr. Alpa...