Reaching Out to Fight Breast Cancer
>>
A beauty shop might not be the first place most women learn about breast health. But for African-American women in the central city — for whom quality health care may be elusive — a wash-and-style can include a reminder about breast self-exams and mammograms for early detection of breast cancer.
Since 2008, community educators, Julie Griffie, RN, MSN, ACSN-BC, AOCN, clinical nurse specialist for Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin’s Breast Cancer Program, Sandra Underwood, RN, PhD, professor of nursing at UW-Milwaukee, and Alonzo Walker, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin surgical oncologist, have collaborated to provide culturally sensitive breast health education to minority women in accessible locations — including hair salons, churches, community centers and other locations where women gather.
This partnership is earning the trust of the community and enhancing the well-being of numbers of women: In 2009, more than 4,000 underserved women received breast health education and follow-up screening or treatment referrals. Now, thanks to significant new grants to the Froedtert Hospital Foundation from the National Breast Cancer Foundation Inc. and the American Cancer Society, outreach efforts will expand.
There is no doubt women of Milwaukee’s central city need this focused attention. According to The Center for Urban Population Health’s 2009 community profile, African-American women living in Milwaukee County have the highest breast cancer mortality rate compared with women of other ethnic groups in the county. Nationally, breast cancer mortality is highest among ethnic minorities, the poor and the underinsured. African-American women face a significantly higher risk of dying compared with women in other ethnic groups.
Griffie will use the new grants to expand educational sessions and facilitate breast health screening plans. The overall goal is to encourage African-American women to follow American Cancer Society recommendations for early breast cancer detection, including faster follow-up of abnormal symptoms or clinical findings, and treatment, if indicated. To address the needs of central city African-American women, Griffie and her staff have developed a culturally sensitive educational program that provides outreach educators with materials that relate to breast cancer risks, the importance of early detection, treatment options and survivorship issues. But she and her colleagues haven’t been working alone.
“We are keenly aware of the need to address our community with respect and sensitivity to cultural issues,” Griffie said. “We collaborate with the Sisters Network®
and other groups to meet goals effectively.” (Sisters Network® Inc.
is a national breast cancer survivorship organization committed to increasing awareness of the impact of breast cancer in the African-American community.)
In the coming year, educators will conduct breast health sessions for more than 1,000 under- or uninsured African-American women ages 40 and older, encouraging them to get annual mammograms. The women are referred to the Wisconsin Well Woman Project and other state and federally funded programs for preventive health screening services and treatment follow up. Women not eligible for mammograms through Wisconsin Well Woman may be screened through a National Breast Cancer Foundation grant.
22
froedtert.com/cancer Clinical Cancer Center
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24