Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women, and the second leading cause of cancer death. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007 an additional 11,710 cases of Breast Cancer will be diagnosed in Florida and 2,700 women will die of breast cancer. While breast cancer mortality rates in the US have decreased among Anglo-American women, minority women continue to bear a disproportionate cancer burden. Rates of breast cancer for Hispanic women are not higher than for other ethnic groups, but the disease is typically at more advanced stages at time of diagnosis and results in higher rates of mortality. Literature also suggests a similar experience in Haitian women. The disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage and, therefore, is associated with a higher mortality rate. Womens Health News reported that 45 percent of Haitians are diagnosed in late stages compared to 44 percent of Black women and 34 percent Whites. Late diagnosis leads to the need for more aggressive therapies and less optimal prognoses. As a result, the five-year survival rate, after diagnosis, for Hispanic and Haitian women is lower than for Caucasian women.
Participation in breast cancer screenings are not well documented for Haitians. Unfortunately, relative survival rates cannot be calculated for other racial and ethnic populations because accurate life expectancies are not available. Moreover, Haitians are generally subsumed within the African-American category for reporting and statistical purposes. The 2000 census records indicated there were 503,000 Haitians living in the U.S. Unofficially, estimates by Haitian community leaders suggest the number is closer to 1.2 million. Studies continue to report that Haitian and Haitian-American women are less likely than U.S. born or English speaking Caribbean women to practice self-breast examination and other breast screening measures.
Furthermore in recent health fairs conducted by Barry University Professor Dr. Jessie Colin in the Haitian community of South Florida, where their were approximately 150 women in attendance, 90 percent of the women attendees verbally stated they had never received mammograms nor were they informed about breast health care practices, including breast self examinations. One participant who stated that she had a lump in her breast was reluctant to seek medical assistance because she believed that “it was in Gods hands.” This statement is reflective of Haitian societys Fatalistic beliefs.
Within South Florida and across the country, in spite of the Hispanic population growth, little is known regarding the disease prevention and health promotion practices among Hispanic women. Rosario Medina-Shepherd, an Assistant Professor at Barry University, in her work with the Hispanic community, found that there are cultural beliefs and misconceptions within that culture that may affect their screening practices. Deterrents may include a difference in interpretation of technical and cancer terminology between English and Spanish speaking women. Additionally Hispanic women were less likely to perceive themselves as susceptible to breast cancer or to perceive that it has a cure. Lower education, lower income, and barriers to medical insurance have been associated with lower mammography screening in Hispanic women. Many Hispanic women believe that screenings are unnecessary and that medical attention should not be sought without the presence of symptoms. Embarrassment has also been found to play an important role in the screening practices of Hispanic women. If the health care practitioner is of opposite gender, women of Hispanic culture are less likely to seek screening due to the embarrassment of exposing private body parts. Limited English proficiency has been identified as a barrier to cancer screening in that it interferes with the ability to obtain information and to communicate perceptions to health care professionals.
South Florida is a unique segment of the country where 51 percent of the residents are foreign born, and almost 70 percent speak a language other than English at home. These cultural and language barriers can impede healthcare access and leave these populations vulnerable to the states top three killers: heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Florida anticipates that 2,700 women will die from cancer in 2007, and an additional 11,710 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed.
It is important for nurses to reach out to these women, educate them, but most importantly empower them about caring for themselves. This means teaching them about monthly breast self examination and getting a screening mammogram. The American Cancer society recommends that women age 40 and older have mammograms every one to two years. Mammograms don’t prevent breast cancer, but they can save lives by finding breast cancer as early as possible. We MUST make the effort to enter their world either by being able to communicate in their language or putting them in contact with someone who can. Providing breast health within a culturally-sensitive manner should be our goal. Working hand-in-hand with the community we can make a difference in these womens lives, and we can decrease breast cancer mortality rate for minority women.
Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in women, and the second leading cause of cancer death. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007 an additional 11,710 cases of Breast Cancer will be diagnosed in Florida and 2,700 women will die of breast cancer. While breast cancer mortality rates in the US have decreased among Anglo-American women, minority women continue to bear a disproportionate cancer burden. Rates of breast cancer for Hispanic women are not higher than for other ethnic groups, but the disease is typically at more advanced stages at time of diagnosis and results in higher rates of mortality. Literature also suggests a similar experience in Haitian women. The disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage and, therefore, is associated with a higher mortality rate. Womens Health News reported that 45 percent of Haitians are diagnosed in late stages compared to 44 percent of Black women and 34 percent Whites. Late diagnosis leads to the need for more aggressive therapies and less optimal prognoses. As a result, the five-year survival rate, after diagnosis, for Hispanic and Haitian women is lower than for Caucasian women. 
