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Breast
Cancer Awareness and South Asian Women
Unfortunately, many of us
have been affected by breast cancer either directly or indirectly.
We have heard the stories of 30-year-old women who had double
mastectomies or of young women who recall learning that their
mothers had breast cancer by mistakenly seeing them without
their wigs. Whether we know the person who is ill or not,
once we have heard these stories, they stay with us.
The Centers for Disease Control report that women in
the U.S. have an estimated 95 percent survival rate if breast cancer
is detected in its early stages. But what does this statistic mean
for South Asian women in this country? Are South Asian women likely
to detect breast cancer in its early stages? What about the survival
rate if one does not detect the disease in its early stages? |
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| According to Dr. Seema
Khan, Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University in Evanston,
Illinois, "Awareness is variable [in South Asian women]. Breast
cancer is not high on their agenda. That is, in the absence of symptoms,
most South Asian women do not worry too much about breast cancer.
However, women who have detected a lump or other symptoms are reasonably
proactive in receiving care. A study of breast cancer outcomes in
South Asian women in California does suggest that delay in diagnosis
is a factor in the slightly poorer outcomes of breast cancer treatment
in South Asian women. Such data indicates that efforts to increase
breast cancer awareness and educating women about the need for breast
cancer screening are needed."
There are additional barriers to care other than
awareness. Khan indicates that “as in other communities, women
who are educated and have health insurance will receive the appropriate
care in a timely manner, but in the absence of access to primary
care, there are women who do experience barriers to accessing the
care that they need."
A number of states have developed programs that focus on increasing
breast cancer screenings and giving women access to the care they
need for breast health. However, the reasons women may not have
access to care may be more complex than simply lack of health insurance.
This is where organizations like the Avon Foundation enter the picture.
The Avon Foundation sponsors a number of walks
throughout the country, in which participants pledge to raise at
least $1,800. The money raised goes towards medical research and
providing access to healthcare for medically underserved men and
women. The Susan G. Komen Foundation holds two big events, the 5K
Race for the Cure and a three-day walk (of 60 miles), in many cities
around the country. For the 5K, participants aren’t required
to raise a certain amount of money, but are encouraged to gather
donations. For the three-day walk, participants pledge to raise
a minimum of $2,200. The money raised by both events funds research
and community initiatives.
The proceeds of such events are being used for,
among other things, a better understanding of breast cancer in minority
populations such as South Asians. For example, Northwestern University
is currently looking at community health aspects of breast cancer
treatment, a study that has been funded by a grant from the Avon
Foundation. According to Dr. Mita Sanghavi Goel, Assistant Professor
of Medicine at Northwestern University, "the purpose of the
grant is to improve the entire spectrum of breast health, from screening
to breast cancer care."
Researchers are working with Erie Family Health
Center in Chicago, Illinois, which provides services to a primarily
Latina population. Dr. Goel notes that "the baseline data shows
that the majority of women at this health center are not screened
regularly. However it is unclear why this is the case. Are their
physicians not recommending mammographies? Are women experiencing
barriers to care [such as language barriers preventing them from
scheduling appointments]? Or, is it patient related—that is,
patients aren't aware of the need to get screened? This is what
we're trying to find out." By answering these questions, this
particular project will allow providers to determine the best possible
ways to ensure that minority women are receiving the appropriate
care that they need.
By participating in events like the Avon Walk or
the Race for the Cure, we can raise not only money, but also our
community’s awareness. As Dr. Goel indicates, “when
the community speaks, people listen.”
Shivani Sharma lives in Washington D.C. and
works as a health policy analyst for the federal government. She
can be reached at shivanisharma915@hotmail.com.
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