ebony-steele

 

Ebony Steele, co-host on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show and FOX TV’s “Dish Nation”, has embarked on a nationwide crusade to assist women in coping with breast cancer. Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Ebony knows this is the perfect time to use her own stories of strength to encourage other women who are battling the disease.

 

STEELE Surviving – Ebony Steele Tackles Breast Cancer Month is a campaign launched to promote the use of social media as a platform for women who are dealing with breast cancer. Ebony kicked off the campaign with an official launch on October 4 at Dr. Heavenly University and will continue on throughout the end of the month.

 

The use of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram (with hash-tag #STEELESurviving) allows Ebony and women all across the U.S. to communicate daily, in which most cases is needed. These women are then able to keep an open dialogue filled with uplifting words and educational information.

 

So much has to be said for the courage and tenacity of women that have gone through breast cancer. No two breast cancers are alike. Everybody’s journey and everybody’s story is different. So what I wanted to do is take an opportunity to recognize some of those women that may have gone through breast cancer. Not even that, maybe people that haven’t gone through it but are pushing towards ending breast cancer and helping women to live longer and survive. Hence the name (my last name), STEELE Surviving and we just decided to launch that this year. We talked about it over the past couple of years. But, we just felt like the time was right.

 

Ebony’s own fight started right around the time she became a host on The Rickey Smiley Morning Show. In 2007, she received the news from doctors that a lump was found in her breast. As anyone could imagine, life for Ebony instantly changed. But, she says that she’s thankful that her darkest moments were short lived.

 

I think the darkest moment is something that happens repetitively. It’s when you think of…say if your life may be compromised or something may happen. The darkest moment for me is thinking about my family. I think in the beginning when I was first diagnosed, it was a pity party. But, it ended up with us turning it into an “okay, we got to do this” because of my mom, my dad, my sister, my family. I never looked at it as “this way it’s me fighting for them.” So, I think “each one teaches one,” and at the same time, it’s something that I’m going through too. I don’t want other women to have those darker moments – or at least dark because they will come – but just so that people can have that little grain of hope and light to know that the work that they’ve done and pushing through it, is definitely something that should be rewarded.

 

For many women that battle breast cancer, trying to figure out how to mentally deal with everyday life is challenging. Some women fall into deep depression and/or become anti-social. Some find it difficult to maintain a positive outlook, especially if they have no true support team. Luckily, Ebony contributes constant prayer and the “listening” ear of her family as two factors that helped her cope with cancer.

 

First of all, just pray. Constantly stay in prayer it is a must. Then [what I said the support team that I had around me] just consistently being that support for that person who is going through it, for example, and listening to them. Everybody’s support is going to be different. In my experience, a lot of times people assume you’re going through breast cancer. I had to tell my mom at one point [and we still laugh about it] when she would do this baby talk, “Hey, how are you?” I said, “Momma, don’t treat me like I’m sick. I know it’s a process, my hair done fell back. I know I look like your baby again…literally a newborn. But, don’t do the baby talk.” So, I think listening to the person that’s going through it and seeing where they need it because some people want to be left alone. Some people want to be treated normal. Some people want to take short disability. Whatever “support” that person needs, just have those ears wide open to listen.

 

According to statistics, there will be an estimated 230,000+ new cases of women with breast cancer in 2013. Many of these women will need not only mental support, but also financial support as well. With the Affordable Care Act being a hot topic, it is confirmed that breast cancer patients will obtain some coverage. But there will be others who will not be financially able to afford insurance. In those instances, Ebony suggests that they reach out to various organizations (local or national) to find assistance.

 

From the standpoint of medical costs (I can only speak for myself), I am someone who is truly blessed. I happen to be working. I happen to have a good job that provided insurance. Also, know that some women that go to the emergency room for their prenatal care when their pregnant just because. Hopefully, with the Affordable Care Act and everything that Obama is doing with ObamaCare, they will try to make it easier for everybody. I do know that chemotherapy is covered and that if people would like to go under that or radiation. I think everybody is still figuring out all the nicks and knots with that whole thing. But, I think that there are organizations (i.e. non-profits). This [STEELE Surviving] is regional so it’ll be different for everybody else. But, I think that for those who do have insurance that they should get their mammograms. Don’t take that for granted even if it covers it. For those that don’t have it, find the means through some of the local organizations; some of the sister organizations and Hairfinity 50K (that’s a group that’s doing stuff), Susan G. Komen of course, but just to find some of those that can help people.

 

No matter the obstacles encountered while suffering from breast cancer, it is important to stay uplifted. This is why Ebony stresses the importance of having a support system. It is the personal stories shared by these women that fuels Ebony’s spirit and willingness to push on for breast cancer. Knowing first-hand the level of commitment it takes, the STEELE Surviving campaign is just her way to keep the cause at the forefront of our minds and celebrate the people that make every road travel all worth it.

 

Well, I definitely don’t want to forget about the strides that we’ve taken in breast cancer. I see, like, the future is bright. In any way that people can put their commitment to (as small as women doing their self-breast exams to the husbands, the fathers, the sons that love the women in their lives), their mothers, your daughters, your sisters, encourage them to do that. Men should do it as well too. It’s definitely a low number of incidents. But a little over a thousand men will get breast cancer every year and will be diagnosed with it, which lets you know that we’re definitely making strides. So we got to keep looking forward not forgetting about what we’ve done in the past. I think they say, “When you’re driving, there’s a reason why the front windshield is bigger than the one behind you.” I think that where we’re going is much bigger and better and hopefully with all of the push with everybody wearing pink in October. I love to see the NFL and even the little league football teams are wearing the pink. It lets me know that people here understand us and let’s not give up hope.

 

The STEELE Surviving campaign tour continues with the Women of Atlanta Charity Fashion Show (Thursday, October 24) and the Classic Soiree & ‘The Classic Afterparty’ during the Magic City Classic weekend in Birmingham, Alabama (Oct. 25-27).

 

To stay updated on this campaign and other future initiatives, follow Ebony on Twitter @EbonySteele. Feel free to leave comments or encouraging words of support by using the official hashtag #STEELESurviving. Her website is www.EbonySteele.com. Please visit the website for information on upcoming dates and venues.

 

 

 

Special thanks to Ebony Steele, Brandsway Creative, and AW Media Group!