Knocking Out Breast Cancer and Sharing Hope
A survivor turns her personal experience with breast cancer into a mission to save lives through advocacy and bedazzled boxing gloves that pack a punch of hope.
Barbara Edwards laughs at the fact that she originally bought her first pair of boxing gloves simply because she loves pink. But after she had a dream that the gloves held a special purpose, she began decorating them into a symbol of hope.
“I started designing them and blinging them out,” said Edwards. “That’s how I’m sharing hope.”
Today, wherever she goes, her signature pink boxing gloves follow - nearly impossible to miss.
The 69-year-old Dallas native is known for her ability to put people at ease. Her warmth and sincerity invite others to open up, even about the most personal matters.
Through her work in Dallas County, she encourages women to prioritize breast health, especially since many avoid mammogram screenings and the preventive care they need. This can be due to cost, accessibility to care or stigmas including fear of cancer, pain, discomfort and embarrassment.
“People tell me things that they won’t tell their doctor or nurse because they feel comfortable with me,” said Edwards. “But when they talk to someone who had a mammogram, who is a breast cancer survivor, who had surgery, chemo and radiation, women are like ‘oh, wow’.”
It’s that kind of genuine connection that defines Edwards, someone who truly understands and shares in others’ experiences. Her journey as an advocate, however, did not begin in a clinic or at a community event, but in her own family.
In 2009, her life was touched by profound loss when her youngest sister, Rose M. Turknett, passed away from breast cancer, a moment that would forever shape Edwards’ path.
Because of her family history, Edwards’ physician at Parkland’s Bluitt-Flowers Health Center ordered a diagnostic mammogram. However, because a previous screening mammogram had shown no abnormalities, her insurance initially refused to cover the diagnostic test - despite Edwards having reported lumps in her breasts several years earlier.
Determined to get answers, Edwards advocated for herself, pushing for the additional testing her doctor had recommended. Her persistence paid off when she received a mammogram at Parkland, followed by an ultrasound, which confirmed she had triple-negative breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, this aggressive type of cancer tends to grow and spread faster and has a BRCA1 mutation – a change in a gene that increases the risk for breast cancer.
“If I had not advocated for myself, there’s a great possibility that I wouldn’t be speaking now,” she said.
Her advocacy for her own health was just the beginning of the lives she would touch.
Having overcome breast cancer, Edwards remains committed to her follow-up care at Parkland, returning each year for her mammogram – something she knows can make all the difference for other women, too.
“It is critical that we talk to women and let them know that early detection saves lives. Some women don't even know that they can get a [no-cost] mammogram,” said Edwards.
Parkland’s Moody Center for Breast Health works to increase mammogram screenings in Dallas County, helping women between the ages 40 to 74 get the care they need. Edwards’ work is vital given the health disparities across the county.
“We are in an underserved area, and the numbers are continuously going up,” said Edwards. “I may not have all the answers, but I believe if we get out there and talk to people, we can reduce the number of women dying from cancer.”
According to the 2022 Dallas County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), breast cancer mortality rates vary by race and ethnicity. Black/African American, non-Hispanic women have the highest probability of developing breast cancer and are 40% more likely to die from it than white, non-Hispanic women. In Dallas County, late-stage breast cancer is concentrated most heavily among Black/African American, non-Hispanic women, whose age-adjusted mortality rate is nearly twice that of white, non-Hispanic women.
Recognizing these disparities, Edwards regularly joins Parkland’s breast health team to provide health education and encourage women to get screened through Parkland’s The 100 Club.
The 100 Club is a network of community ambassadors dedicated to encouraging women to get mammogram screenings. Parkland provides ambassadors with the tools they need to be successful in their mission to raise breast cancer awareness in their respective communities. Education and early detection are key in the fight against breast cancer, and Edwards knows every fighter needs their gloves.
She and her gloves have now traveled to multiple states to spread awareness about breast cancer. The gloves have become a conversation starter, sparking connection wherever she brings them.
“They have literally helped save people’s lives,” she said. Women and men often approach her, sharing their stories about breast cancer, taking photos and connecting over the gloves.
Even when she isn’t actively leading events, people who need her guidance seem to find her. Whether she’s at community centers in Dallas or traveling to other cities, she is always ready to educate and inspire. “You would be surprised what we run into when we’re out in the community,” she said.
Edwards’ mission of hope at The 100 Club extends through her non-profit, the Rose M. Turknett (RMT) Cancer Network, named after her late sister. The RMT Cancer Network provides comprehensive support, promotes cancer awareness and fosters a community of compassion and hope.
“Sharing hope is what it’s all about,” said Edwards. “And the gloves? They have made all the difference.”
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