Partnership with the Southeast WI Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Have You Had Your Mammogram?

Most women know they should have a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20 and a yearly mammogram starting at age 40. However, for a variety of reasons, many women do not get this important breast cancer screening. This is important as screening is the key to early detection and diagnosing cancer early when it is most treatable.

In order to discover why women aren’t getting screened and how they can improve screening rates and reduce breast cancer mortality in our community, the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is partnering with the Planning Council. In December, the Planning Council conducted a series of key informant interviews with health care providers, educators and community stakeholders in Milwaukee, Racine and Waukesha Counties to better understand the breast health care landscape and the barriers women are facing.

African American women in particular have lower rates of breast cancer screening than do white women and higher rates of mortality. To find out what is keeping some local African American women from getting mammograms, in early January, the Planning Council conducted two focus groups with African American women over the age of 40. The information gathered in these focus groups will help Komen Southeast Wisconsin identify gaps and barriers in breast cancer screening in the area. It will also allow the agency to better target its grantmaking, education and advocacy work in upcoming years.

The Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure was founded in 1999 by a group of dedicated breast cancer survivors, breast health professionals, and other women of vision. In addition to funding breast cancer research, the Affiliate has awarded over $4 million dollars to community organizations and local hospitals to empower medically underserved women in southeastern Wisconsin through education, screening and treatment programs.

To find out more about the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and their services, please go to their website: http://www.komensoutheastwi.org/