Project Title: Nuestras Historias: Mujeres Hispanas Sobreviviendo el Cáncer del Seno / Our Stories: Hispanic Women Surviving Breast Cancer

Abstract:

The project represents another collaboration with the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to leverage our contributed resources to create products that serve mutual needs. The goals of this project were to produce a book of stories that cover the challenges that confront Hispanic women from South Texas and their resilience skills. This bilingual, culturally sensitive publication features real Latina breast cancer survivors who express in their own words how they struggled and overcame the many challenges that breast cancer presents. The Komen Foundation affiliate of San Antonio, TX is our funding partner, and the book is available to all Redes En Acción regions, as well as being distributed by the local and national offices of the Komen Foundation.

PI:

  • Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH, Professor of Medicine and Deputy Director of the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine

Funding Institution:

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (San Antonio)

Funding Period:

1 yr.– 2002-2003

Location/Service Area:

Breast Cancer Survivors from San Antonio, Texas (participants);
Breast Cancer Survivors from South Texas (beneficiaries)

Collaborators/Co-sponsors:

  • Redes En Acción Program
  • Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation
  • American Cancer Society
  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Breast Cancer Support Group
  • Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving and Sharing (WINGS)

Goals:

Develop a bilingual, culturally sensitive and appropriate booklet about Latina breast cancer survivors that will provide breast cancer education to underserved Latina breast cancer survivors.

Results:

The public release of the Nuestras Historias book took place on October 12, 2004 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. More than 200 people attended the event, including members of the media, local cancer health officials, researchers, academicians, and representatives of San Antonio-area breast cancer organizations. All of the authors were invited, and 22 were able to attend with their families. They were honored individually by the project's Principal Investigator, the President of the University, and San Antonio Cancer Institute officials, and received copies of the book for themselves and their families. Also recognized were the financial supporters and all of the individuals who played a role in the development of the book. It proved to be a memorable event, particularly for the women who shared their stories in the book.

The book was distributed free to Latina breast cancer patients and survivors, primarily through the Komen Foundation, San Antonio Affiliate. Also assisting in dissemination to the target audience were the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation; Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving and Sharing (WINGS); American Cancer Society; University Hospital; and Cancer Therapy & Research Center. To maximize the impact, these organizations are asking book recipients to read the book, then pass it along to others who might also be helped by its message. The hope is that the books will continue to circulate through the target audience in the future.

The book may be also be accessed online at www.redesenaccion.org, and CD copies can be requested from the Redes En Acción main office in San Antonio.

We are proud to report that Nuestras Historias: Mujeres Hispanas Sobreviviendo el Cáncer del Seno / Our Stories: Hispanic Women Surviving Breast Cancer has received the following awards:

  • 2005 Bronze Addy Award, American Advertising Federation, San Antonio
  • 2005 Bronze Quill Awards, International Association of Business Communicators
    • - Award of Excellence for Publications/Special Populations
    • - Award of Merit for Publication Design/Special Populations
  • 2005 The Communicator Award of Excellence
  • 2005 Bronze Award, National Health Information Awards
  • 2005 Platinum Award, MarCom Creative Awards
  • 2005 Silver Quill Award, International Association of Business Communicators, Award of Merit

Potential Impact:

The publication produced by this study will likely act to increase the efficacy of educational materials for Spanish-speaking women concerned with breast cancer issues.

Publications:

La Fuente Louviere J, et al. Nuestras Historias: Mujeres Latinas Sobreviviendo el Cáncer del Seno / Our Stories: Latinas Surviving Breast Cancer: A publication of Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Network; National Cancer Institute Grant No. U0 1 CA 86117-01(D. Presswood, Ed.). San Antonio, TX, Quadrangle Press, Inc., 2004.