Creando nuestra Salud

Informing, Modeling and Practicing Early Breast Cancer Detection

Many Hispanic women are neither taught, nor practice the breast self-exam.  As early detection is critical to survival, sharing messages about breast health is of vital importance. The foundation of our breast health education is reinforcing the importance of early breast cancer detection through the breast self-exams (BSE) and clinical examinations, and modeling instructions to the BSE and encouraging regular detection screenings.

The Creando  Program

In the past five years, Creando Nuestra Salud has trained over 150 lay-health workers to use interactive teaching tools and fotonovelas to empower women to practice early breast cancer detection activities (breast self-exam, clinical visits and mammograms). By September 2011, over 2400 women had received one-on-one trainings as a result of the lay-health worker program.

Creando Nuestra Salud is a shining example of a community-based health project. This breast health project grew out of the needs identified by Alianza de Mujeres Activas (AMA) in Central Florida. With funding from the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation, the Central Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Florida Division of the American Cancer Society, the RWHP has worked with rural communities throughout Florida and Central Kentucky in the development, evaluation and distribution of these materials. Read more