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A New “Connection” for Breast Cancer Information

A study released in January by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contains good news and bad news about breast cancer survival rates: Although fewer women are dying from this disease compared to a decade ago, the death rates for Caucasian females are declining more rapidly than those for women of color. According to the study, breast cancer deaths for white women decreased by 18% between 1990 and 1998, compared to 13% for Hispanic women and only 4% for black women.

Because women in underserved minority communities are less likely to have access to life-saving facts about breast cancer and treatment options, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Dallas has added a new feature to its award-winning Web site (www.Breastcancerinfo.com) to help close this deadly information gap. The Komen Connection is a first-of-its-kind online database designed to connect health care professionals and community outreach groups with sources of patient education materials, examples of successful breast health programs and other helpful resources nationwide.

The Connection features a unique search engine that lets users quickly and easily locate the best available breast cancer prevention brochures, pamphlets, videos, model programs and more, both in their local communities and in other parts of the country. You can search from a list of topics provided, conduct an open search or even add your own items to the database. Most importantly, you can search listings of culturally competent materials and programs targeted to specific minority populations, including African Americans, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics/Latinas, Native Americans and lesbians.

In addition, www.Breastcancerinfo.com has revamped its popular About Breast Cancer: The ABCs of Breast Cancer section, updating much of the contents and making the pages more user-friendly and easy to navigate. Developed in partnership with Harvard University’s Center for Cancer Prevention, this part of the site is designed to provide health care consumers with comprehensive information on a broad range of breast cancer topics, including risk factors, early detection, treatment options and improving chances of survival after treatment.