It’s finally Fall, Hoodoo Heritage Month, and it’s my birthday. I made it!
Can I vent for a bit? Let me tell you, it was a different kind of Summer for me. Summertime usually brings an ease into my life. However I had a lot of lessons, sacrifices, and struggles handed to me. I became a caregiver, and I had to make some work adjustments to be there for family members. I’m actually thankful to be able to be there. This administration has not been kind to Black women at all. I know I'm not alone, and I hope other women don’t feel lonely in this fight to stay afloat. Between the lack of work and the constant political attacks on our physical well being, I believe we are collectively feeling the blues. If you’re like me you’re pulling for all forms of relief, joy, and happiness. Whether that be through hobbies, community, or even rest. Rest is good! So please take a load off. Whatever serves your peace, please tap into that. Hoodoo Heritage Month is still my favorite celebration of the year because the community of Hoodoos activate from all over. I get to see so many of us honor our tradition in the light, out of the shadows like many of our ancestors did. Many argue that it’s just a tradition and not a religion, I don’t argue, I just be. It’s my way of being. It’s how I love, eat, pray, and move in the world during this human experience called life. I know it’s the reason I became a doula, and how I came to create an organization. Somethings are already written, and the tradition grounds me in the path of my destiny.
For my newsletter this month, I’m getting into breast health and awareness, as October is also Breast cancer awareness month. Plus I had a few experiences in the last few months, so I’m sharing my journey of breast health. I’ll be breaking down the steps I took over the summer to get cleared results from doctors and techs. In sharing my experience I hope to encourage others to consider taking their first steps to knowing the status of their breast too.
Get That Mammogram, Sis!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while the world goes pink, I want to go deeper. Because awareness without action, without equity, and without centering Black women isn’t enough. Your breasts and your menstrual cycle are in constant conversation with each other. And understanding that connection might be the most important thing you do this month.
Some months back, I felt a lump under my arm, (which turned out to be an ingrown hair), and reached out to my primary care doctor for an appointment. I did genetic testing for breast cancer, as well as a screening and she put in an order for a mammogram. Usually they encourage you to wait until you’re 40 for your first mammogram, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to wait anymore. Get screened!
That pink ribbon campaign was never designed with us in mind. Here’s the data that actually matters, plus what to do with it. Keep reading →
Get screened earlier. Don’t wait for 40. If you have a family history or any concerning symptoms, push for a mammogram or ultrasound now. Your age is not a barrier, and your advocacy is your tool.
Know your density. Black women are more likely to have dense breast tissue, which can make mammograms less effective. Ask your provider: “What is my breast density?” and whether additional imaging is recommended.
Do monthly self-exams. Experts say knowing what’s normal for your body is one of the most powerful early detection tools. Do it in the shower, 3–5 days after your period ends.
Know your family history. Break the silence. Ask your mother, your aunties, your grandmothers. That information could save your life and theirs.
If dismissed, go again. Studies confirm Black women are more likely to face delays in diagnosis. If a provider brushes you off, you are allowed — and I am encouraging you to seek a second opinion.
What If Your Mammogram Comes Back Positive With a Mass or Inconclusive?!
After having two mammograms, an ultrasound, AND an MRI, my results came back inconclusive. This happened because my results showed no lumps, no tumors, however there were breast calcifications, which are tiny calcium spots in breast tissue. They divide into large macrocalcifications (usually harmless) and tiny microcalcifications (which sometimes require a closer look or biopsy). Therefore it was recommended for me to do a biopsy. Now let me tell that process was not great or pleasant AT ALL! A tiny sample of my breast tissue where the calcifications were located were extracted using a crazy needle. Mind you, they numb you and extract the tissue while your breast is being squeezed in a mammogram simultaneously. Yes, the process is nuts. Nothing about it was easy. I just want to be straight up about it, because they definitely sugar coat when they explain the procedure to you during your consultation. Keeping it real, THIS is the procedure set in place for us.
Your cycle and your breast health are not separate conversations.
The same hormones — estrogen and progesterone that drive your menstrual cycle also directly influence breast tissue. Research shows that hormonal imbalances don’t just affect your flow, they can also signal changes in breast health worth paying attention to. Here’s what your cycle may be telling you:
Breast tenderness before your period? Totally common in the luteal phase as progesterone peaks. But if tenderness is severe, localized, or doesn’t ease after your period, don’t normalize it, just flag it with your provider.
Lumps feel different at different cycle points? That’s real. Breast tissue changes texture and density throughout your cycle. Schedule breast self-exams consistently, ideally a few days after your period ends, when tissue is least swollen.
Irregular cycles? Studies suggest that very short or very long cycles may be linked to increased breast cancer risk over time, because of the cumulative hormonal exposure to breast tissue. Another reason cycle tracking matters beyond fertility.
On hormonal birth control? Combined estrogen-progestin methods have a documented, modest association with breast cancer risk. It doesn’t mean don’t use them, it means know your body, know your family history, and ask your doctor the hard questions.
Grandma’s Hoodoo by. Chelsea VonChaz
Birthed by ancestors.
Rooted in truth.
Spiritual by nature.
Conjured through blues.
Served with justice.
Practiced with protection.
Remembered through word.
Coded in discernment.
Mistaken as magic.
Anchored in tradition.
Honored by family.
Archived in kitchens.
Worked with earth.
Spoken on porches.
Powered by psalms.
Masked in churches.
Evoked by God.
Divine in love.
Covered by spirit.
Guided by blood.
Audre Lorde: The Cancer Journals
Long before Breast Cancer Awareness Month existed, Audre Lorde — Black, lesbian, feminist, warrior, poet — wrote this. Part memoir, part manifesto, The Cancer Journals chronicles her experience with breast cancer and mastectomy while refusing to be silent, diminished, or defined by her diagnosis. It is one of the most important books a person with a body has ever written. This October, pick it up for the first time, or read it again.
Available now at your local bookstore and online. Support Black-owned bookshops at IndieBound.org.
New episode w/ the Hungry Medium is live now!
The Practice of a Hoodoo Baptist is my storytelling podcast exploring the intersections of faith, folklore, and freedom through a Southern born, Black Woman’s lens. Each episode features a conversation with a scholar, spiritualist, or storyteller unpacking the sacred technologies that have carried us—from the church pew to the juke joint to the altar. It is my personal series where I share my journey of deconstruction, Hoodoo, and ancestral wisdom. Guests also get to dive into their stories of spiritual development. Check out the latest episodes below.
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Thank you for uplifting black women’s breast health. i too had my first biopsy this summer and didn’t discover until after several mammograms, the biopsy and my own research about how density impacts our imaging results.