Hispanic Outreach Program
Ladies, Educate Yourselves ... Prevent Breast Cancer

Mayo Clinic community program targets breast cancer prevention awareness among Hispanics in Jacksonville

Mayo Clinic, working with the University of North Florida, the Duval County Health Department and local Hispanic media and churches, has developed breast cancer prevention and awareness seminars that are being held after church services this summer and fall.

Because Hispanics in Florida have a higher mortality from breast cancer than Caucasians, the project seeks to reduce the disparity by increasing the awareness of breast cancer prevention and screening methods among Hispanics. The project is funded by a grant from the Florida Division of the American Cancer Society.

The program began with a month-long radio and print advertising campaign in Jacksonville's Hispanic media stressing the importance of breast cancer prevention, screening and nutrition. Educational sessions in Spanish are being held at Hispanic churches in Northeast Florida.

The 40-minute seminars, hosted by Spanish-speaking physicians, nurses and nutritionists, cover

• the importance of early detection
• breast self-examination
• mammograms
• the role of a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables in decreasing cancer risks
• breast cancer resources in the community

The sessions are informal, and participants will be encouraged to ask questions. Spanish-speaking physicians from Mayo Clinic discuss breast cancer prevention and detection. Nutrition experts from the University of North Florida Brooks College of Health explain the importance of nutrition and its affect on decreasing cancer risk. Participants receive information from the Duval County Health Department about resources available in the local community for breast cancer screening and treatment, including the national Centers for Disease Control breast and cervical cancer screening program and the Volunteers in Medicine clinic.

For more information, call (904) 953-0469 or send an e-mail to Sheylla Millian.