HCHD Promotes Breast Cancer Awareness in the African-American Community

African-American women are less likely to be screened for or to seek treatment for breast cancer. They are also more likely to die from the disease, according to recent findings by the American Cancer Society.

In response, a program spearheaded by the Harris County Hospital District (HCHD) aims to change that for women living in the county. Through a cooperative effort with The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and the Texas Cancer Council, the Hospital District has begun its African American Breast Cancer Outreach Project (AABCO) to educate and create awareness of early detection and mammography screenings in the African-American community.

"AABCO is a culturally sensitive community-based model for outreach and case management with core components of using outreach case manager coordinators, developing site community and professional advisory committees and coalitions to promote education and awareness, and providing follow up treatment, support and referral services," says Melanie Gross, AABCO project coordinator for the Hospital District.

The project targets women in the predominately African-American communities of Settegast, Acres Home, Third Ward and Sunnyside. Research has shown that a majority of these women are poor and underserved by current health care providers. Organizers hope to establish a network of community and professional organizations that can easily provide women with life-saving information about breast cancer.

If detected early, 95 to 100 percent of cases are curable. However, if the disease is allowed to spread and enter its later stages it is usually fatal. Researchers report that breast cancer among African-American women is generally more aggressive and occurs at a younger age.

According to the National Cancer Institute, fewer African-American women are diagnosed with breast cancer, but a higher rate die. Nationally, 31.5 per 100,000 African-American women die from breast cancer compared to 26 per 100,000 white women.

"African-American women have the highest mortality rate due to breast cancer than any other ethnicity," Gross says. "The sad thing is that many of these deaths could have been prevented through early detection."

In collaboration with other organizations dedicated to providing breast health education and breast cancer screening services for medically underserved women, AABCO is sponsoring a kickoff event featuring a play by Houston playwright Thomas Melancon, "Before Time Runs Out." The play illustrates the struggles of a single woman who discovers she has breast cancer. The play stresses the importance of monthly self-examinations, clinical breast exams and annual mammography for women over the age of 40.

The one-day performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Ensemble Theater, 3535 Main St. The performance ties into the national campaign of Breast Cancer Awareness for the month of October.

Following the performance, there will be an expert panel discussion on breast cancer including HCHD mammography case manager Velma Watson; Dr. Lisa Newman, surgical oncologist from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; and Janice Workuff, a breast cancer survivor and president of the Sisters Network, Houston chapter.

AABCO is also in two other Texas communities, Dallas and Tyler/Longview.

For information about AABCO or free tickets to the play, call Melanie Gross at 713-746-6507.

- JOHN F. MARTINEZ

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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