The purpose of Nuestra Comunidad Sana's "Entre Amigas/Between Friends" breast cancer outreach project is to increase the awareness of breast cancer and decrease the mortality rates of the disease for rural, low-income, under-served Latinas in the Mid-Columbia. Free or low-cost clinical breast exams and mammograms are provided to those who qualify by age and income levels by our community partners: the Oregon Breast and Cervical Cancer Program for the Mid-Columbia coordinated by the Wasco/Sherman County Public Health Department, and the Hood River County Health Department.

Entre Amigas is funded by the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It is modeled after the successful Entre Amigas project of the Western Arizona Area Health Education Center in Yuma, Arizona, which consulted generously with us so that we might replicate certain aspects of their program.

Need for Project

The American Cancer Society reports breast cancer prevalence rates for Hispanic and non-Hispanic women are essentially equal. Yet the Susan G. Komen Foundation reports that mortality rates are highest for women of color, non-English speakers, and rural low-income women, which well describes the Latina population of the Mid-Columbia.

Why the disparity of mortality rates when prevalence does not significantly differ? The Oregon Health Division indicates that between 1993 and 1997, 78% of non-Hispanic women between 50-64 in Oregon had mammograms, while only 62% of same-aged Hispanic women did so. Failure to have yearly clinical breast exams often leads to late-stage diagnosis, and late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer is one of the main indicators of mortality.

There is a financial and accessibility connection to the disparity in obtaining mammograms. The Oregon Health Division reports Hispanics in Oregon are uninsured for medical care at twice the rate of non-Hispanics. And in 1997, 85% of insured women 50-64 years old had mammograms while only 41% of same-aged uninsured women did. We believe the clear link to reducing breast cancer mortality among Latinas in Oregon is to reach uninsured women and facilitate their receiving a free or low-cost exam.

Objectives and Activities

• Coordinate with a wide spectrum of agencies serving the Hispanic community to inform them of the Komen project and the availability of free or low-cost mammograms;
• Increase awareness of breast health and preventive detection among women and their families in the Hispanic community by performing periodic skits on Spanish language radio programs, placing simple posters in areas frequented by Latinas, conducting talks after church, at parent groups, and at workplaces, and making home visits;
• Increase the number of Latinas receiving free clinical breast health services by facilitating visits to our cooperating partners.

Dissemination

Nuestra Comunidad Sana will be happy to share our methodology and activities with anyone who wishes to replicate our project. You may contact us at ncs@gorge.net.