It's being reported in the media that the wife of comedian Charlie Murphy has died. Tisha Taylor Murphy is reported to have lost a long battle with cancer. The couple had three children together; Xavier, their son, is pictured above.

The following statement was released by Charlie Murphy's publicist:

"Tisha Taylor Murphy, wife of comedian and actor Charlie Murphy, passed away peacefully on Sunday, with family at her side after facing the challenges of cancer for the past two years. The Murphy family appreciates all the support they have received from friends and fans and requests privacy during this very difficult time."

Charlie Murphy is the brother of fellow comedian Eddie Murphy and is best known for his roles on 'Chappelle's Show' and the movie 'CB-4.' I've loved Charlie Murphy for years, as much as his brother, and I share my sadness for him and his family.

Reports are that Murphy's wife passed away from breast cancer. Breast cancer is a serious health risk for many women, especially African Americans. According to the American Cancer Society, a woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer and a one in 35 chance of dying from it. For American women, instances of breast cancer are higher than any other form of cancer, other than lung cancer. For black women, it is the most prevalent form of cancer (Sistersnetworkinc.org).

There is hope. There are roughly 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in America, and incidents of the illness are dropping due to early detection and screening.

You can fight against breast cancer by getting a mammogram every one to two years if you are over the age of 40. Ask your doctor if you should get screened even sooner, since the cancer can occur before then. Also, early diagnosis and treatment are critical, since black women are more likely than white women to die from breast cancer once it's been detected. This is largely due to detection occurring at later stages in the process.

Be strong, be healthy, be educated.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a finance professor at Syracuse University and author of the book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.