Breast and Cervical Cancer Outreach Project
A partnership between:
The Phillis Wheatley Center and the Lexington-Fayette County Health Dept.
Our Purpose
To educate women age 40 and older about the importance of regular breast and cervical cancer screenings, including a mammogram and a pap test.
Our Methods
Our message is spread by our Community Health Advisers, who are local women trained to talk to their friends, neighbors, family, and others in a friendly non-technical manner about how cancer screening can save lives.
Our Goal
To lower cancer rates among all Lexington women, especially African-American, Asian, Hispanic and other underserved women, through community based education.
Why we are needed...
- An estimated 20,000 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among African American women, and 5,700 of them are expected to die with the disease.
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among this ethnic group, surpassed only by lung cancer.
- The breast cancer death rate remains higher among African American women five-year survival rate of breast cancer is 74%, compared to Caucasian women of 88%.
- Scientists are not sure why breast cancer affects African American women and Caucasian women differently.
- The incidence of breast cancer among women under 45 is higher for African American women compared to Caucasian women. However, the risk of breast cancer for all women increases with age.
- African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with larger tumors and more advanced stages of breast cancer despite a lower incidence rate.
What you can do...
If you are a woman age 40 or older and are not getting a regular mammogram and a pap test, please call Sister to Sister to reach a Community Health Advisor for information and encouragement. Community Health Advisors are also available to make one or more presentations to groups, organizations, clubs, churches, businesses, ect.
Contact Information/Directions
To speak with a Community Health Advisor, please call 859-254-3786
Referrals
The Lexington-Fatette County Health Department
650 Newtown Pike * Lexington, KY 40511 * Phone (859) 252-2371
American Cancer Society
ACS
or call: 1·800·ACS·2345
