Yo me cuido: Addressing breast cancer health disparities among Latinas in the Tampa Bay, Florida area through Community Outreach Workers

Latinas are more likely to be diagnosed for breast cancer at a later stage than non-Hispanic Whites. The American Cancer Society and the Walmart Foundation provided funds to address breast cancer health disparities among Latinas. Moffitt Cancer Center created Yo me cuido (I take care of myself), a community-based outreach and education program for Latinas to increase cancer-related awareness and knowledge, increase mammography use, and reduce cancer risk through healthy lifestyles. Workshops were delivered by Moffitt's Community Outreach Workers in various venues including restaurants, beauty shops, churches, and women's homes. Women are followed for mammography screening; those in need of mammograms are linked to screening appointments. The program intended to reach 250 women through 18 workshops. Due to the overwhelming interest from the community, 636 women were educated through 23 workshops. Of those women, 401 were 40 years and older. Nineteen women were screened at Moffitt, 17 scheduled an appointment at Moffitt, 3 were referred to the health department, 19 were referred to the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and 5 had their screenings performed by their primary doctors. The remaining are pending contact, lost to follow-up, or will schedule their mammogram in 2012. The response and support from the Hispanic community has proved that this grassroots program is necessary in the Tampa Bay community to provide education to those in most need. Future efforts to expand Yo me cuido include television segments on Hispanic channels and a website focusing on cancer screening, prevention, and risk reduction.