St. Joseph Community Health announced recently a major new initiative that will help women access crucial non-medical services for breast cancer.
Scheduled to open in early 2008, the Breast Cancer Resource Center will be a comprehensive, up-to-date place where women can get personalized help based on their unique situation. The Resource Center is designed to close the gaps in connecting women with breast cancer and their families to community resources.
Mistrust of the medical system too often keeps women in our community from seeking medical attention, even if they are experiencing symptoms, This is precisely why the Breast Cancer Resource Center exists -- to provide connections to needed services that respect a woman's culture, her community, and yes, her story.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in New Mexico. It is also the leading cause of cancer death in New Mexico for African American, Native American and Hispanic women, even though their incidence rate is lower than their Non-Hispanic White counterparts.
Medical professionals, cancer survivors and community organizations in Albuquerque have identified significant gaps in how women are connected to resources. I am a breast cancer survivor, and I know what it's like to need help and feel like there's none available.
The Resource Center will focus on the issues women face in getting treatment and other services. Just the thought of cancer or some medical condition can be overwhelming. We often wonder, ‘why bother going to the doctor, they can't help me.'
If a woman is so frightened by her diagnosis that she delays treatment, that's a concern we can help with. We also want to be sure that access to transportation and other community resources doesn't delay or stop treatment.
Women can get one-on-one help at the Breast Cancer Resource Center. We connect woman and their families to screening services, like mammograms and we also help identify other services such as support groups or counseling services for women in any stage of cancer treatment. We'll help women identify and access services that meet their distinctive needs.
Page: 1 2 3