The North Carolina Breast Cancer Screening Program (NC-BCSP) in eastern North Carolina is breaching the social norms that impose a prevailing silence about breast cancer in African American communities. As a result of the secrecy surrounding breast cancer, women in these communities who experience the disease are reluctant to discuss their needs or seek support. Support programs for survivors exist; however, they are not tailored to the social context of the African American women living in this region. Consequently, African American breast cancer survivors often have had to cope in isolation with their cancer diagnosis, treatment, recovery and the continual threat of relapse.
To counteract this problem, Ms. Bernice McElrath, a resident of eastern North Carolina and a breast cancer survivor of 16 years, developed NC-BCSP's Make Today Count (MTC), a self-help group program for African American survivors. The program is unique in eastern North Carolina. Since it was established in 1997, MTC has forged a cohesive network of more than 35 members who meet regularly at local sites across five counties. MTC participants report that the benefits of their network includes social and emotional support, access to information, and a venue where survivors can "talk, laugh, and cry without any feelings of shame, embarrassment or discomfort." Program participants credit their involvement in MTC with fostering their pride as breast cancer survivors and increasing their ability to speak out about their experiences and the importance of mammography.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Cancer, Quality of Life
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.