Treating Breast Cancer: A Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach

[N'Zinga Shani]

OneWorld Progressive Institute Presents: Treating Breast Cancer: A Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach

The 8:17 video linked to this post has valuable information on the importance of making good decisions about treatment for Breast Cancer. When we get bad news, it's not always easy to think clearly. However, if it is a topic about which you already have some solid information, it will be easier to think more clearly.

• An informed patient asks more effective questions and is more empowered to make good decisions about her care.  She does research and develops relevant questions for her team.  She reaches out for support and additional information before seeing specialists.
  
• She is more likely to be perceived as a partner in her care than a patient who is panicked and leave it all up to the doctors.  Invest in gaining knowledge before there is a crisis; this is empowering.  OneWorld provides many video segments on health literacy. 
  
• Visit our YouTube Channel at: https://goo.gl/UblRT8  to see video segments.  Complete 1-hr DVDs are available from OneWorld at: www.oneworldpi.org/
• Black women do not have to accept the negative stats; we can try to change them for ourselves, as individuals, by being proactive.
• 34 in 100K Black Women and 25 in 100K White Women Die from Breast Cancer!
• Black & Native American Women Have More Aggressive Forms of Breast Cancer
• More Black Women are Diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer Due to Late Diagnosis (Might be about access and/or decision to avoid doctors until ill; this is not preventive care)  Early diagnosis can lead to more effective treatment.
• More Black Women have other illnesses at time of diagnosis
• Larger percentage of Black Women gets a different standard of care than White women. 
• Many Black women do not get the recommended care. (This could be the patients’ decision)
• This study involved more than 100,000 women. Findings consistent with others.
• Black women avoided doctors more and are more likely to get lesser treatment.

https://youtu.be/aaoYXyHGW14  Listen carefully to each physician. Make note of comments about the importance of having a Medical Oncologist.

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/black-women-more-likely-get-wr...  More information about study results here.

Visit OneWorld's YouTube channel to view segments of various health literacy videos:

https://www.youtube.com/user/oneworldpi

[N'Zinga Shani]

Although breast cancer is most common among white women, minority women, especially African-American women, are more likely to die from the disease. Access to screening, quality care and follow-up care are crucial to bridging the gap in health outcomes for Black and Hispanic women. It is important that Black and Hispanic women pay close attention to their breast health; get appropriate and timely screenings, and be proactive in their care on every level.  

https://www.youtube.com/user/oneworldpi