Public Health Campaign Essay

Although survival rates of breast cancer are improving, it is occurring at a slower rate for minorities (O’Keefe et al., 2015). Recommendations on when to begin mammography screenings vary slightly with greatest consensus for women with average risk to begin annual screening at 40-years-old. Fewer minority women adhere to mammography guidelines than white women and an even greater gap exists for those above and below the poverty line (Kerans, 2004). Based on evidence from a systematic review of 88 studies, the Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends multicomponent interventions for breast cancer screening for the greatest impact on underserved

This will explore the role gender, ethnicity, race and socio-economics play in the acquisition, maintenance and experience of health care. A particular focus is the interaction (intersection) between these elements and their effect on awareness, education, active prevention and early detection of cancer, particularly breast cancer in women. Cancer is a disease caused by a mutation and rapid division of cells. Cancer is a general term describing many diseases; essentially there is a wide array of types of cancers. This vast differentiation makes it difficult to combat this disease and similarly the differences among individuals cause the course of this disease to vary greatly, cancer effects people differently. Breast cancer is one of the more well-known forms of cancer and is frequently touched upon or glazed over in discussion. A conversation may start with “I know someone who has or had cancer” but way to often this is where the conversation ends. The discussion on breast cancer needs to expand, to further the spread of information and understanding of the many aspects of this disease. “Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body” (What is Breast cancer). Breast cancer can be found in both male and female populations but it is particularly, prevalent among women, Breast cancer is the most pervasive

According to genetics and social science research there are striking differences between White and minority populations affected with breast cancer in the U.S. These disparities are likely due to a combination of cultural, environmental and genetic factors that differ between the groups. Historically, scientists have separately explored either the genetic or the social/behavioral contributions to cancer. The research team profiled in this case study takes the position that we cannot effectively grasp the complexity of cancer etiology, nor design appropriate

Declining cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States have continued through the first decade of the twenty-first century. However, Black Americans continue to have the higher cancer mortality rates and shorter survival times. This review discusses and compares only breast and prostate cancer mortality rates and mortality trends for Blacks and Whites. The complex relationship between socioeconomic status and race and its contribution to racial cancer disparities is discussed.

“African Americans have the highest death rate form all cancer sites combined and from malignancies of the lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, female breast, prostate, and cervix of all racial or ethnic groups in the United States (Elizabeth ward, 2004). The health disparities in African Americans and other racial groups are alarming. For this essay I choose to focus on the empirical facts on the disparities between African American women and European American women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and the disparity in mortality rates. Therefore many of the studies I found linked the disparity to race, poverty and environmental factors. American cancer society estimates, that in 2017 there will be 252,710 new breast cancer diagnosis

African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a rate of one-in-ten. Caucasian women see a rate of 1-in-8 however, 1-in-31 African American women are found die from their illness where 1-in-37 Caucasian die from breast cancer (ASPCS, 2014). These numbers are

Banegas, M. P., & Li, C. I. (2012). Breast cancer characteristics and outcomes among Hispanic Black and Hispanic White women. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 134(3), 1297–1304.

The North Carolina-Based Breast Cancer Screening Program (NC-BCSP) was questioning if they could increase African-American women’s access to breast cancer screening, would this help women determine their risk factors and seek further screening process? The goal was to decrease the obstructions of the women in North Carolina to everyday health care, but at the same time increase women’s access to breast cancer screening, while making connections that could help women across the state. The evaluated outcomes was to implement an education process so that there was a tracking system that would determine if the participants were at the human health center and clinic for their initial visit or a repeat visitor.

How do cultural differences affect breast cancer prevalence, prevention, and treatment in African-American, Hispanic/Latina, and Caucasian women living in the United States?

Disparities of all kinds exist in modern day health care. One such disparity that is of particular interest is one that exists between Caucasian and African American women relating to their respective rates of breast cancer incidence and breast cancer survival. According to the American Cancer Society, Caucasian women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African American women however; Caucasian women have a higher survival rate than African American women (ACS, 2006, as cited in Leshner, 2006). This is to say that although Caucasian woman have a higher rate of breast cancer compared to African American women, Caucasian women have a higher rate of survival. This finding is indeed a disparity in heath care, and one that begs the question as to why this is so. The reasons as to why this disparity exists are numerous and very complex. Several factors play a role in substantiating the disparity in mortality rates related to breast cancer in African American women, including differences in spirituality and religion, differences in education surrounding breast cancer, and differences in socio economic standing as it relates to ones health promotion

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women. Despite the many technological advances that have been made to detect breast cancer at earlier stages, it continues to kill more women than any other cancer. Breast cancer affects all women, but the mortality rates from it are significantly higher in Black women than any other group (Hunt, Whitman, & Hurlbert, 2013). These rates are especially concerning when considering that White women are diagnosed at much higher rates.

Although African Americans have the same rate of incidence of cancer as Whites, African Americans commonly believe that they are less likely to have cancer. (Black Americans' Attitudes Toward Cancer and Cancer tests: Highlights of a study 212) This stems from the idea that cancer is a white person disease while diabetes and sickle anemia are black person diseases. “Beliefs about cancer may influence the perception of risk of developing the disease, and participation in screening programs” One’s beliefs are often developed from one’s culture. This cultural belief in addition to others, causes African Americans to be less likely to screen for cancer. As seen in a study about screening Colorectal Cancer, African American participants were less likely to screen for Colorectal Cancer due to the belief in cancer fatalism, which is to say that one will certainly die from cancer (Shavers, Brown 334). Lack of health literacy also contributed to disinterested in cancer screening, this lack of knowledge may stem from low SES that affects many African Americans or once again the disinterest in cancer as a disease that majorly affects black people. It is important to understand that African American culture to understand and therefore make screening more available to black people without fundamentally changing African American

Breast cancer is the second leading cancer killer among women, after lung cancer (Breast Cancer , 2014). Cancer is a word that puts fear in many people, especially if they have family members who have either died or survived the disease. No one wants to hear that he or she has been diagnosed with any disease, especially cancer. Many women do not take breast cancer serious until they are diagnosed. Sadly, once diagnosed with this epidemic, a person’s life is altered forever. Breast cancer does not discriminate and can happen to anyone at any age. To prevent this disease, one must take the necessary precautions to lower the risk factors. In fact, there are several local and national events to remind people of breast cancer’s existence. Many

Public health is a dynamic field of medicine that is concerned primarily with improving the health of populations rather than just the health of individuals. Winslow (1920) defined public health as;

The health behavior that was chosen to promote during our campaign was yoga. We encouraged students, staff, and faculty members at Knox College to partake in yoga classes offered by the school in order to reduce stress and target a particular health/illness outcome. The main physical health/illness outcome targeted in this campaign was reduced blood pressure. Yoga is also seen to improve cardiovascular health. We chose to focus on the benefits of yoga to improve blood pressure and cardiovascular health instead of just one or the other because most of the studies that we found while researching mentioned both decreased blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health occurring from practicing yoga.