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.
The Breast Cancer Resource Center will offer a number of innovative services, including:
An information clearinghouse. Using new, leading technology, the Resource Center will manage an extensive database of community resources, providers, treatment locations, counseling services and more. Information about screening and risk reduction will also be available.
Advocacy and help. Specially trained, culturally competent facilitators and staff will help assess needs and connect women to services. Staff will personally follow-up and monitor services provided and identify where gaps exist.
A comfortable, home-like setting. Convenient to public transportation, this Resource Center will offer a soothing environment and drop-in or scheduled appointments.
Life-affirming events.
When breast cancer occurs, changes in a woman's personal and family life can be significant. The Breast Cancer Resource Center will be a place that supports and nurtures women with events such as family movie nights, art exhibitions, guest speakers and more.
The Resource Center, which is on schedule to open in early 2008, has already begun offering services.
We sponsor a yoga class for cancer patients. Cancer patients who do yoga show improvements in quality of life and benefit from greater emotional, social and spiritual well-being and less distress.
Inspired by cancer survivors, community organizations and providers, the Breast Cancer Resource Center is designed to compliment, not duplicate, existing services. In addition to a Community Advisory Council, the Resource Center has sought input and support from groups such as People Living Through Cancer, Comadre A Comadre, A Gathering of Cancer Support, the YWCA Encore Plus Program, The New Mexico Cancer Care Alliance, the Albuquerque Cancer Coalition and others.
In addition to the Breast Cancer Resource Center, St. Joseph Community Health also offers a number of other programs designed to improve community health, including Senior Well-Being Clinics, Community Health Education, Santo Domingo Gardening Project, Diabetes Education Program and the Southeast Heights Community Strengthening Project.
A non-profit organization, St. Joseph Community Health improves individual and community health by providing connections to resources, advocating for change, offering tools for strengthening communities and education about factors beyond medical care that truly impact health.
For more information about the Breast Cancer Resource Center, call Jahaan Martin at (505) 462-3939 or email Jahaan at jahaanmartin@catholichealth.net.