Take Action for National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
At YSC, we work all year long to develop programs that are as diverse as the young women we serve. Because breast cancer disproportionately affects certain populations, we need your help so we can continue to provide services that are inclusive and impactful.
It is important to recognize the unique experiences of those who identify as minority women diagnosed with breast cancer. We support efforts that highlight these important issues, including National Minority Cancer Awareness Week, which begins this Sunday, April 10. This is a week dedicated to promoting awareness of cancer among racial and ethnic minorities, and the greater cancer burden they face.
Did you know?
- African American women under the age of 45 are more likely to get breast cancer than white women in the same age group.[1]
- Compared to non-Hispanic white women, Hispanic/Latina women are less likely to receive prompt and suitable breast cancer treatment.[2]
Some of the barriers that minority women face include inadequate access to health care, lack of health insurance, limited health literacy, discrimination and a health care system that is not culturally competent (e.g., not offering materials in different languages).
It’s also important to acknowledge that many of the barriers to care that women of racial and ethnic minorities face are also experienced by women from other diverse backgrounds, for example:
- There are higher rates of breast cancer among lesbian and bisexual women compared to heterosexual women. At the same time, lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to have adequate health insurance and receive routine health screenings.[3]
- Women living in rural areas are often diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage than women residing in metropolitan areas.[4]
What can you do?
We care about the unique needs and experiences of young women from every background. So, we are asking any young woman affected by breast cancer, as well as health care providers, to complete our Diversity and Inclusion Survey. This survey is part of our long-term strategy to gather the information we need to better serve all young women affected by breast cancer.
Will you take a few minutes to complete this important survey?
The information we gather will allow us to better address the needs of all the young women we serve. The survey is open to individuals of any racial, ethnic, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.
As a thank you for your participation, your name will be entered for a chance to win one of five $30 Amazon gift cards. The deadline to complete it is May 11, 2016.
[1] American Cancer Society (2016). Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2016-2018. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-047403.pdf
[2] American Cancer Society (2015). Cancer Facts & Figures for Hispanic/Latinos 2015-2017. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@research/documents/document/acspc-046405.pdf
[3] American Cancer Society (2015). Cancer Facts for Lesbian and Bisexual Women. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@editorial/documents/document/acspc-044844.pdf
[4] Depke, J.L., Boreen, A., and Onitilo, A.A. (2015). Navigating the Needs of Rural Women with Breast Cancer: A Breast Care Program. Clinical Medicine & Research. 13 (3-4), 149-55. doi:10.3121/cmr.2015.1260
About the Author
Stacy Lewis
