Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, turns her attention to breast cancer awareness and specifically to how men are affected and also how black women are much more likely to die from breast cancer than are white women.

OMAHA, NE – October 20, 2020 – Dr. Seun Adetayo, renowned plastic surgeon, author, and inspiring speaker, has posted a new blog on her website entitled, “Bringing A New Focus To Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Dr. Adetayo highlights the devastating frequency of breast cancer among all women, pointing out the greater dangers the disease has on black women and men diagnosed with breast cancer specifically.

Dr. Adetayo writes, “As we launch into breast cancer awareness month, I would like to bring attention to two areas that easily get overlooked. First,” she explains, “is the effect of breast cancer and its mortality in men, and secondly, the higher death rates in black women with breast cancer.”

According to Dr. Adetayo, “Although breast cancer is less common in men, it carries a greater risk of death because awareness among men is lower, which can cause a delay in seeking and receiving treatment.” She emphasizes, “A higher sense of alertness is critical to improve vigilance and earlier treatment in men diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Dr. Adetayo writes, “The other high-risk group is black females.” She asks, “Did you know that according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Black women and white women get breast cancer at about the same rate, but black women die from breast cancer at a higher rate than white women?” https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/statistics/

“In the general population,” Dr. Adetayo says, “breast cancer affects one in every eight women.” She continues, “Even though black women are less likely to develop breast cancer, they are 40% more likely to die from it than are white women. The sad truth is that black women under the age of 35 are twice as likely to get breast cancer and three times as likely not to recover from it.”

The entire blog can be read at https://seunadetayo.com/2020/10/13/bringing-a-higher-level-of-focus-to-breast-cancer-awareness-month/

About Dr. Adetayo

Dr. Seun Adetayo currently practices in Omaha, Nebraska. She is a board-certified Plastic Surgeon and a Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  She is a Professor of Surgery, and Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Adetayo is unique in her field. As a gifted surgeon operating in a competitive field, Dr. Adetayo is also the first foreign-born (Nigerian) female minority surgeon to have built a successful nationally accredited multidisciplinary program for children with birth defects in Northeastern New York. She continued in this trajectory of helping patients and families as she now heads the Division of Pediatric Plastic Surgery where she serves as the Chief at the Children’s Hospital.  Her journey has been dedicated to caring for patients and their families; mentorship for students, residents, and faculty; advocacy for legislation at local and national level; research; education; and community engagement and leadership. She shares her journey and strategies for success via her print material, meeting panels, blogs and speaking engagements.

Dr Adetayo has authored several book chapters in leading texts, including the second edition of Comprehensive Cleft Care which is an authoritative text volume on cleft and craniofacial disorders and treatment.  She also authored a chapter in the Family Companion Guide for educating patients and families with cleft and craniofacial diagnoses. She was also the author of the chapter on treatment of zygoma fractures in the text Operative Techniques in Plastic Surgery.

She has received over 40 awards and recognition, and her work has resulted in over 50 published works and over 60 presented works at regional, national, and international meetings. She is published in peer-reviewed publications in leading journals including Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, and Journal of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics.

Dr Adetayo plays an important role in mentoring and education in surgery, healthcare, and professional circles. She served as an invited surgeon and surgical educator during her last mission trip to Zimbabwe, where she served as the lead surgeon and guest lecturer for various hands-on plastic surgical reconstructions and teaching sessions. She is active in Women In Leadership lectures and advocacy. She served as a speaker for the Synthes collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Company on Improving Cultural Competence and Ethnic Diversity in Healthcare, and was one of four selected panelist speakers on Pioneering Women in Reconstructive Surgery International Program by L’Oreal in conjunction with Resurge International. She was an invited speaker at the 2019 Healthcare Finance Management Association (HFMA) annual Women In Leadership Conference in upstate New York. In January 2020, she served as the Keynote Speaker for the Stryker Women’s Network National Conference National Women in Surgery and Leadership event in California.

Dr. Adetayo has served in various community leadership positions including Chairperson of the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Co-President of the Phi Delta Epsilon Premedical Society, Co-President of the Pritzker REMEDY Cuba Medical Aid Mission, Coordinator of the Chicago Local Chapter of the Adolescent Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) program for inner city Chicago school kids. She currently serves as Managing Editor and Co-Chair of the Learning Resource Committee of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA).

She has been involved in various medical education and surgical trips to several countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nigeria, Peru, and Zimbabwe as educator and surgeon.  She was awarded a Diploma of Honor conferred by the President of the Congress of the Republic of Peru.  She collaborates on meaningful initiatives with various international organizations including Rotary International and The Smile Train on improving surgical outcomes, healthcare delivery, patient safety, and quality control standards in surgical reconstruction. She continues to be active in advocacy, and philanthropic efforts in developing children and advancing communities.

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