Empowering Black Women to Take Charge of Their Bone Health: Rev. Tammie Denyse Shares Her Inspiring Story & Insights on the Link Between Cancer and Osteoporosis
Rev. Tammie Denyse
No stranger to tragedy and loss, Rev. Tammie Denyse has been navigating trauma personally and professionally for more than 40 years. She uses intersections of faith, education and her life experiences to create a heart-centered approach to healing and wellness. Rev. Tammie is a master group facilitator for those facing tragedy, grief and loss.
Rev. Tammie is co-founder and president of Carrie's TOUCH, a 501(c)3 nonprofit breast cancer organization established to enrich the lives of Black American women diagnosed with the disease. She is an 18-year breast cancer survivor and has spent the past 15 years coaching cancer patients and their families through the trauma of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and re-entry after the journey through cancer. She is recognized as an expert in the field of breast cancer and Black women and is the Co-Principle Investigator for Project SOAR (Speaking Our African American Realities) in partnership with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Project SOAR examines the unique experiences of Black American women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Rev. Tammie’s work has been recognized locally, nationally, and globally for its innovative approaches to breast cancer survivorship and overall wellness.
Rev. Tammie is visionary and artistic director for the Carrie’s TOUCH Breast Cancer Exposed™ Calendar Project -a cutting edge calendar that takes an artistic approach to awareness and education and has been distributed globally and is currently in eight countries.
Rev. Tammie wrote, developed, and implemented the H.O.P.E. Peer/Nurse Navigator program in Ghana, West Africa to educate and support women with breast cancer in Africa. The program has been presented to and accepted by the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and the World Cancer Congress (WCC) as cutting-edge training on an international level. Rev. Tammie also provided messages of hope to breast cancer patients in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Rev. Tammie’s penned the number one best-seller, “The Power of Hope; Reclaiming Your Life After Tragedy,” which tells the story of how she daily navigates the murky waters of trauma, grief and loss. Rev. Tammie's TEDx talk entitled, “Toxic Strength,” – dismantles the Strong Black Woman trope to be all things, to all people all the time while suffering alone in silence and gives those facing trauma permission to take the necessary time needed to pause and heal.
Rev. Tammie earned her degree in Human and Community Services from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, CA. She earned her Master of Divinity and Master in Community Leadership from the American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, CA. Rev. Tammie received her cancer coaching certification from The Cancer Journey Coach Training Program. She is a master group facilitator for those facing tragedy, grief and loss, mentor and spiritual advisor to those seeking a deeper understanding of a God who is bigger.
Rev. Tammie received the Distinguished Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from Trinity International University of Ambassadors. Rev. Tammie Denyse was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN and currently resides in Sacramento, CA. She is an ordained minister, nonprofit executive, community researcher, coach, international speaker and bestselling author. She is the mother of three adult children and the grandmother of two.
How are you or someone you love impacted by osteoporosis?
I recently learned that I have been impacted with osteopenia as a result of undergoing breast cancer treatments almost two decades ago. While I was informed that the life-saving treatments could impact my bone health, it was challenging to take in all the information while fighting for my life. Understanding the connection between my overall health and my bone health was not easy. After more than 15 years, I received my second DXA, but by then my bone health had been compromised – I was now being reactive instead of being proactive. I wasn't aware I needed a follow-up DXA every one to two years. Unfortunately, it took me working with the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) to learn this. Had I known, I wouldn't have waited nearly sixteen years to request a follow-up DXA scan since my first one back in 2004. Navigating a breast cancer journey is complex. Of course, I would have wanted more power to control my health journey sooner. But I'm alive and that's a great thing! In 2013, I had a benign hemangioma that caused a compression fracture along my spine. My spine was collapsing. I had numerous MRI’s and X-rays – I believe this was the perfect opportunity for my doctors to order a DXA scan, but they didn’t, nor did they mention the possibility of this becoming a more serious concern in the future. I live in chronic pain and my quality of life has also been affected because of my weakened bones. Black women lose up to 20% of their bone density in five-to-seven years after menopause. And sadly, those who are battling cancer are faced with yet another challenge: fighting bone fractures and osteoporosis. This is very concerning for me.
What do you know about bone health and osteoporosis that you think is important for everyone in your community to know?
People of all backgrounds and life experiences are susceptible to this debilitating bone disease. And women who have had breast cancer treatment may be at increased risk for osteoporosis and fracture because of treatment, medications, or surgery. My best advice is to ask your physician to order a DXA scan to get your baseline bone density. Don’t wait for a fracture to happen – get involved with your bone health today. I especially want to empower Black women to control their health narrative by asking the right questions and having a bone health plan:
What are my risk factors for osteoporosis?
When should I have my bone density tested? And WHY?
Am I taking any medications that can cause bone loss?
What can I do to limit the risk of bone fractures?
Have you made any lifestyle changes based on what you now know about osteoporosis? If so, what are they?
It's important to take care of our bones the same way we take care of our skin, by adopting regimens that improve our overall wellness. I now make sure that I know my vitamin D level. Black Americans often have lower vitamin D levels, myself included. Therefore, I take supplements to support my bone health. I walk to strengthen my bones. And I get regular DXA scans. As a result of these lifestyle changes, I’ve been able to maintain my bone density with no further deterioration. I want to express the importance and value of getting a baseline DXA screening and having annual to biannual follow-ups. You'll surprised to know that DXA screenings are easy, painless, and quick.
How are you and your organization raising awareness about osteoporosis and bone health among people of color?
At Carrie’s TOUCH, we are dedicated to saving more Black women living with breast cancer by humanizing their experiences. We journey with patients throughout their breast cancer process – from diagnosis through reentry to living in their new normal. For many survivors, the journey doesn’t end with the words “cancer free.” Unfortunately, some are at increased risk for osteoporosis and fracture. Of course, most of us will gladly choose the life-saving treatment, and I encourage patients to be proactive in not only knowing their risks of getting osteoporosis, but what actions can be taken to prevent bone loss. To raise awareness of these issues, we work closely with the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. We also joined TOUCH Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Cancer Fashionista to launch the "All About the Break," a campaign to promote awareness about bone health. Our efforts caught the attention of Dr. Jill Biden’s office and the Cancer Moonshot team. Our interaction had an immediate effect in providing them with the latest information on bone health that they were not previously aware of, including that Black women have the poorest outcomes after suffering a fracture. To learn more, please visit https://www.carriestouch.org/bone-health.
Are there any additional items you would like to share?
Though all people are affected by breast cancer, Black women surviving this disease have radically different experiences and outcomes than most. Since becoming involved with bone health awareness I have tried to figure out how we make the messaging of bone health "sexy." And after much consideration my response is: being mobile and agile in and of itself is sexy! Having the best quality of life, and having strong bones well into our later stages of life is not only sexy, it's smart. Protect your bones today for a healthy, vibrant, and fulfilling life tomorrow! Need help preparing for your bone health discussion with your physician? Check out our Survive & Thrive app, developed by Carrie’s TOUCH - the first of its kind to offer tangible resources for Black women, to dismantle narratives that historically have harmed Black women, and provide quick answers to patients. Download our app and learn more here https://www.surviveandthriveapp.com/.