Beating Breast Cancer

Center of Excellence in Eliminating Health Disparities
University of Illinois at Chicago

Click here to watch our DVD Beating Breast Cancer Five African American women, all breast cancer survivors, share from their hearts to help women beat breast cancer, (14mins). DVD Feedback Form



	"I would tell every Black woman I know that there is every reason to have hope and you will be fine... And the more we engage in healthy health promotion behavior and screening, that is more likely to be the case." Dr. Monica Peek, Beating Breast Cancer

	"What about your male friends? How are they going to look at you? And I looked at him and I said, 'It's not about them. It's about me. I'm still a woman...and I'm focusing on living.'" Tasha Weathersby, Beating Breast Cancer

	"The Bible tells us faith without works is dead, so you just can't rely on what God is able to do. Knowing that He is able, but at the same time you are capable of doing things as well." Angela Walker, Beating Breast Cancer

Welcome

The Beating Breast Cancer Program is an African American community outreach to promote early detection of breast cancer. It is funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the goal is to save lives through increased mammography screening. African American women in Chicago have twice the risk of dying from breast cancer as white women. This is not the case in other cities, so we know this can be changed here. A recent report showed that Chicago has some of the LOWEST mammogram screening rates in the nation, even for women whose screening is paid for by Medicare. Our goal is to help more women get screened for breast cancer, because early detection is the key to saving lives.

Beating Breast Cancer Program Components:

Events within four communities with high death rates from breast cancer: Roseland, Pullman, West Pullman, and Riverdale. These events will take place in a variety of places, such as churches, beauty shops, food pantries, school events for parents, and other locations.

Nurses from the National Black Nurses Association, Alpha Eta Chapter of the Chi Eta Phi Sorority , and other organizations will provide expert information for women at our events.

Personal guidance (one-on-one) for women who need help in finding a mammogram they can afford.

DVD addressing the worries about breast cancer that keep women from getting screened, presented by five African American cancer survivors.

Distribution of attractive bags containing information on (1) where to go for low-cost and no-cost mammograms; (2) copy of the DVD to watch and share with others; (3) brochures on mammography and breast health.

Collaborating Partners

The Beating Breast Cancer Program was developed in close collaboration with the following partners: Greater Roseland Breast Cancer Task Force, Healthcare Consortium of Illinois, American Cancer Society Chicago Region, Chicago Chapter of National Black Nurses Association, Chicago Family Health Center, National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, Sister’s Network, and the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force.

Goal

Our goal is to save lives throughout Chicago, so we will make our materials available at no charge for others to use outside of our targeted four community areas. If you would like a copy of our DVD or other materials for use in your outreach programs, please contact us at this number:
312-996-8503.

Carol Ferrans, RN, PhD, Executive Director
Funmi Apantaku-Onayemi, MA, Project Director
Robin Mitchell, BS, Navigator
Linda Graham, MS, RN, Project Coordinator
Marilyn Willis, MS, RN, Community Liaison

Project Contact Information

(312) 996-8503
beatingbreastcancer@uic.edu

Project Support

This community activity is supported by federal funding awarded to research programs at the University of Illinois at Chicago (grant NIH P60 MD003424 from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities)