Kaiser, Komen join forces to aid Latinas

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Find more stories of courage, treatment and survival in the face of breast cancer at www.columbian.com/news/health/breast-cancer

Poder y Vida … El cáncer de seno no discrimina.

“Poder y Vida” es una campaña de concientización y prevención de cáncer del seno para Latinas.

Un mamograma te puede salvar la vida.

¡Cuida de tu senos!

Después de los 40 años, la mujer se deber hacerse un mamograma o examen de detección cada ano.

Házlo ahora. No necesita dinero, seguro médico, ni número de seguro social.

Para más información llame al 503-546-7434. o visita nuestra pagina komenoregon.org/grants/PoderYVida.aspx

Consejos para mantener una buena salud y reducir el riesgo de cáncer de mama; (pero no reemplazara un mammograma.)

• mantener un peso saludable

• agregar el ejercicio a su rutina

• limitar el consumo de alcohol

(English translation)

Power to Live … Breast cancer does not discriminate.

“Power to Live” is a breast cancer prevention and awareness campaign for Latinas.

A mammogram can save your life.

Take care of your breasts!

After age 40, women should have a mammogram or breast screening each year.

Do it now. You don’t need money, insurance, or a Social Security number.

For more information call 503-546-7434 or visit our page komenoregon.org/grants/PoderYVida.aspx

Tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce your risk of getting breast cancer ( but doesn’t replace getting a mammogram.)

• Maintain a healthy weight.

• Add exercise to your routine.

• Limit alcohol intake.

After losing a sister to breast cancer nine years ago, Socorro Hernandez, 46, knew about the importance of early screening.

But after having her first mammogram in 2010, the native Spanish speaker hadn’t gone back for another test, though they are recommended yearly for women her age.

Filling out paperwork and navigating the health system can be a daunting task for even a native English speaker. It’s even harder for someone who doesn’t speak the language well. But Hernandez found help — and a free test — through a special program launched early this year by Kaiser Permanente and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

The program, “Poder y Vida” (or “Power to Live”), linked her with an interpreter who helped her fill out the paperwork and get a full screening at no charge.

“I had a very good experience,” Hernandez said through an interpreter. “The community health worker was also very nice. She came to my house to do the assessment and scheduled my appointment.”

The program began after the Komen Foundation looked at regional cancer data and discovered a disturbing trend in the Latina population.

“They found that Latinas have a lower incidence of breast cancer, but a higher fatality rate,” said Catherine Potter, safety net programs coordinator at Kaiser Permanente. “They found that Latinas were more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, and we know that a later diagnosis means you’re more likely to die.”

About 36 percent of the Latina population in the region with breast cancer aren’t diagnosed until the late stages of the disease, compared with 26 percent of the general population of women with breast cancer, Potter said.

“It’s a pretty egregious health disparity,” she said. “And Latinas are also the highest group of uninsured in our community.”

A lack of insurance, language problems and few resources are likely all parts of the larger problem.

“We also know there are some cultural barriers, both with privacy and modesty,” Potter said. “Women are often the last ones to come for health care and well-being because they put their families before them.”

When the Komen Foundation learned of the disparity it decided to do something about it, and the charity invited Kaiser to help, said Thomas Bruner, CEO of the foundation in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

“When we started it was going to be a $1.5 million (educational outreach program), but it jumped to $2.5 million when Kaiser Permanente stepped up and said they’d do all the breast cancer screenings for this program for free.”

That commitment includes screenings, follow-up and treatment for those diagnosed with the disease, he said.

“It’s just an insanely generous, forward-thinking, compassionate offer,” Bruner said. “At the end of the day this is not about ZIP codes or clusters or $2.5 million. It’s about saving Latinas’ lives.”

For Hernandez, the news was good. No cancer was found. And the appointment took all of about 15 minutes.

She got the results by mail within the week, she said.

“I was very happy,” Hernandez said. “I was thankful to God for giving me health.”

The program has three main elements: To educate Latina households in Oregon and Southwest Washington about the importance of early screening; to train Latina community leaders and gatekeepers to educate others about the disease; and to create a targeted campaign for free screenings and diagnoses.

The first two of those are ongoing in Clark County. The third is limited to four ZIP codes in Oregon where the incidence of late screening and death are highest.

Those areas are Rockwood, Beaverton/Aloha, Salem and inner east Portland. But people in other areas can still call Kaiser if they want help with the information or assistance in finding a program, Potter said.

“A lot of the messaging and one-on-one is really about how important women, mothers and grandmothers are to their families — and that (screening and getting care) is something they can do not just for themselves, but for their families, by being there,” Potter said.

Another group with an even higher rate is set for the next outreach effort. About 43 percent of African-American women in our region are diagnosed in late stages, Bruner said.

“We just convened our African-American task force and we’ll be addressing that next year,” Bruner said.

The statistics don’t just fluctuate by race, either, but also by geography — and sometimes it’s a bit mystifying, he added.

“We also see disparities in late-stage diagnosis across counties or towns,” Bruner said. “It’s not really urban versus rural, either. It’s messier than that. It’s not easily explained.”

In the three Southwest Washington counties served by the Komen Foundation of Oregon and Southwest Washington, Cowlitz County has the highest rate of late-stage diagnosis.

“We don’t know why that is yet,” Bruner said. “But it’s higher than Clark and Skamania counties.”

Wherever you are, though, it’s a good idea to get checked. It’s well worth it, Hernandez said.

“You should do it,” Hernandez said. “It hurts a little, but it can save your life.”