Compton official holds breast cancer walk for 13th year

By Emilie St. John

Contributing Writer

COMPTON —  Compton school board member Satra Zurita held her 13th annual Compton Walk for A Cure cancer walk Oct. 5 at Centennial High School.

The walk was founded by Zurita and her sister, Janna Zurita, who previously served on the Compton City Council.

“Our mission is to illuminate the path towards early detection education for Black and brown women and through our dedicated efforts, we are bringing hope, awareness, and the tools needed to ensure every woman’s journey begins with knowledge and empowerment,” Satra Zurita said. “As a six-year cancer survivor, I am living proof of the life-saving education.”

Zurita continues to share her personal story of being a breast cancer survivor and how educating others led to the early detection of her own diagnosis.

“In 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and because it was found so early I was able to benefit from a lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy,” Zurita said.

A major component of the walk is women having the ability to have an ultrasound exam during the event.

“My sister Janna and I decided to do something about educating the community on the importance of early detection, and here we are 13 years later, continuing to help the community,” Zurita said.

Zurita said she believes in the importance of educating women in urban communities about how early detection saves lives. The walks encourage women to get routine mammograms, and with monthly self-checks, substantially decrease the number of women dying from breast cancer, which affects African Americans and Latino at higher rates.

“One in eight women will get breast cancer this year, and early detection is a key to survival,” Zurita said.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Black women, and an estimated 33,840 new cases were diagnosed in 2019, with an estimated 6,540 deaths in 2019.  

In 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer with 685,000 deaths around the world.

“We continue to be able to provide on-site ultrasound screenings and if necessary provide referrals to their primary physician for follow up,” Satra Zurita said. “An ultrasound is much more invasive than a mammogram and is rarely performed unless a patient has received a suspicious mammogram result.”

Zurita estimates their events have reached more than 20,000 women over the last 13 years. 

Emilie St. John is a freelance journalist covering the areas of Carson, Compton, Inglewood and Willowbrook. Send tips to her at emiliesaintjohn@gmail.com.