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Someone asked me how the African American and Latino communities have responded to all of the talk about the mammography guidelines changes. My response was, well, those who have no insurance have probably missed the entire episode and those with insurance and looking to avoid mammography are now convinced to do so. We know that researchers and physicians are going to write many, many editorials in response to the USPSTF mammography guidelines change. They’ll be published in CA, Cancer, and other journals and, of course, the NYT, Post and WSJ.
So I propose this, I’ll take what they write and translate it into common-woman language and try to get it published in Essence, Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, Oprah, Latina Style, community newspapers, blogs, Facebook, etc. I’m not aware that the uninsured or average insured woman is reading Cancer or the NYT. It’s time we take the issues to the community, clearly and respectfully. That’s health promotion! Here are the ACS guidelines which have not changed: Starting at age 40, women, of average risk, should have a screening mammogram every year.
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The Office of Health Disparities of the American Cancer Society is pleased to present its third conference on health disparities, Health Equity: Through the Cancer Lens. This year we move beyond description to action. By combining research and practice and the academy and community, we will focus on what we know works from the perspective of advocacy, community intervention and communication. Our keynote speakers will discuss how we use research to effect change and we’ll hear from members of the community who have actually achieved change in cancer incidence, risk behavior and survivorship. Visit the conference web site at www.TheCancerLens.org.
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Women are truly the Ministers of Health, Chief Medical Officers, Directors of Family Wellness, and Health Attachès of the household. It falls to us to manage urgent care situations, ensure prevention and wellness check-ups take place and to continuously poll the family making sure everyone is doing ok. When it comes to our children it’s easy —we put them in the car or take the train and make our way to the appropriate healthcare provider. With our sisters and mothers, it’s still pretty easy, we encourage and cajole them into seeing a doctor or eating healthy and remind them of just how important they are. But when it comes to us-ourselves, that’s, as they say, a whole other story! We have plenty of reasons: I’m too busy, I feel fine, I’ll go if I need to, my family needs me. Sound familiar? Well, all of that is true
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My first interview with BlackPolitics.com founder Ed Phelps has been published. It is a concise yet informative look at cancer disparities facing African Americans. Visit www.BlackPolitics.com and check it out.
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What if I told you that if you jumped off a cliff, three hundred feet high on to rocks below, you would have a 1 in 5 chance of dying and a 1 in 3 chance of getting hurt? Would you jump? The odds are in your favor. I’ll bet you wouldn’t (and this is from a woman who got kicked out of Vegas). I’ll bet you would say the odds aren’t good enough. Well, if you smoke more than 10-15 cigarettes per day for a few years, those are your odds.
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Women are truly the ministers of health, the Chief Medial Officers, the education heads, the health attachès of the household. It falls to us to manage urgent care situations, ensure prevention and wellness check ups takes place and to continuously poll the family making sure everyone is doing ok. When it comes to our children it’s easy —we put them in the car or take the train and make our way to the appropriate facility. With our sisters and mothers, its still pretty easy, we simply accompany them, maybe even join them for a checkup ourselves, make it an outing of sorts. But when it comes to our husbands, boyfriends and brothers, that’s, as they say, a whole other story!
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Welcome to my Blog. This is where I advocate for health equity for all and deliver my perspective on the state of the population’s health in a country that spends nearly $2 Trillion on healthcare every year and yet ranks 30th in life expectancy. I look forward to your feedback and to lively conversations on health issues.
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