The Yo me cuido® Program: Addressing Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Among Hispanic Women

Abstract

Breast cancer is less likely to be diagnosed at the earliest stage in Hispanic/Latino (Hispanic) women compared to non-Hispanic White women, even after accounting for differences in age, socioeconomic status, and method of detection. Moffitt Cancer Center created a comprehensive health education program called Yo me cuido (®) (YMC) to address and reduce breast cancer disparities among Spanish- and English-speaking Hispanic women by providing breast cancer and healthy lifestyles awareness and education, and promoting breast cancer screenings, reminders, and referrals for women 40 years and older. The purpose of this paper is to showcase the innovative approaches and methods to cancer prevention and early detection of the YMC program, and to promote it as an effective tool for improving outcomes in community health education, outreach, and engagement activities with Hispanic populations. Key components of the program include educational workshops, mammogram referrals, and a multimedia campaign. The YMC program is unique because of its approaches in reaching the Hispanic population, such as delivering the program with compassionate services to empower participants to live a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, direct follow-up for mammography screenings is provided by program staff. From 2011 to 2013, YMC has educated 2,226 women and 165 men through 93 workshops. About 684 (52 %) women ages 40 and older have had a screening mammogram within their first year of participating in the program. The YMC program is an innovative cancer education and outreach program that has demonstrated a positive impact on the lives of the Hispanic community in the Tampa Bay region.

Latina and Black/African American Women’s Perspectives on Cancer Screening and Cancer Screening Reminders

“…Each method has shown some success [19–21]; and each has drawbacks, such as privacy limitations [22], cost, logistics or patient perception [23–25]. To our knowledge, evaluations of reminder letters have focused on one screening event and one health condition at a time; for example, mammography and breast cancer [26, 27], pap smear and cervical cancer [28, 29], or immunizations and influenza [29, 30].…”

Breast Cancer Incidence and Risk Reduction in the Hispanic Population

“…Breast cancer is more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage in Hispanic women than NHW despite having a lower incidence rate than NHW and Black women [ 38 , 41 - 43 ]. Even after accounting for age, socioeconomic status, and methods of detection, these women are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and present with larger tumor size than NHW [ 38 ].…”

“…Even after accounting for age, socioeconomic status, and methods of detection, these women are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage and present with larger tumor size than NHW [ 38 ]. The disparity between ethnic minorities and NHW has been largely attributed to a lower frequency of mammograms, longer time between mammograms, and decreased timely follow-up of suspicious mammograms [ 43 ]. In addition, a lack of knowledge and information on cancer and culturally-based perceptions of cancer contribute to this difference.…”

“…Early detection awareness and education with culturally appropriate strategies are goals of programs meant to target and improve outcomes for Hispanic women. One program from the Moffit Cancer Center, the Yo me cuido (YMC) program, has been designed to reduce the disparities found among Hispanic women in Florida while also engaging the community [ 43 ]. YMC is an innovative program that has incorporated client reminders, media campaigns in Spanish, education materials in both English and Spanish, group and individual workshops, and funding assistance to increase awareness, education, and access to screening [ 43 ].…”

Éxito!: Making an Impact in Training Latinos for Doctorates and Cancer Research

“…There is a substantial lack of “insider researchers” who share cultural characteristics with the communities who experience disparities and serve as critical players in helping reduce cancer health disparities [4–6]. The need of these “insider researchers” is four fold: insider researchers have a deeper and more culturally attuned understanding of the health disparities experienced by their own community; they dedicate themselves more passionately and personally than any other group to the elimination of these disparities; they engender trust and a high degree of credibility among community members and leaders whose partnership is essential to truly relevant, actionable research, and they serve as role models and mentors for future generations of researchers [7–9]. …”