HAND IN HAND AGAINST CANCER A STORY ABOUT THE POWER OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP IN THE FACE OF BREAST CANCER

Transcription

1 HAND IN HAND AGAINST CANCER A STORY ABOUT THE POWER OF FAMILY AND FRIENDSHIP IN THE FACE OF BREAST CANCER

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3 STARRING JUANA MARÍA CARMEN LUISA DR. DOMÍNGUEZ ANA 1

4 Juana, María y Carmen get together every Friday to have coffee and catch up Did you hear what happened to Aida Ramírez? Hello Carmen. Are you still coming over today? Yes! I m on my way Yes, how terrible! Did you hear about that Juana? Juana? María notices that Juana is quieter than normal Juana, are you ok? You look distracted... 2

5 I found a lump in my breast a few weeks ago and I don t know what to do Never I m scared they ll find something wrong with me That could be serious. When was the last time you got a mammogram? But it s better to know sooner rather than later Carmen s right. My sisterin-law found a lump in her breast and she got herself checked out right away. It turned out to be cancer but they caught it early enough to treat. 3

6 Maybe you re right Juana calls her local health clinic to schedule a mammogram You should call the clinic today. We ll be here to support you. Several days later, Juana goes to her appointment. María comes along for emotional support 4

7 When you re ready, a nurse will take you to the next room for the mammogram. It will be uncomfortable, but it only lasts a few minutes each side. 20 minutes later We will call you in a week or two with your results... Thanks for coming with me, María. Don t mention it.that s what friends are for. 5

8 Juana spends two weeks anxiously awaiting her results RING!!! Hello? Mom, some doctor wants to talk to you Good morning, this is Dr. Domínguez. May I please speak to Juana? 6

9 Juana, I d like to schedule a follow-up appointment to discuss the results of your mammogram. What was that about? Are you okay? Is something wrong? We will go over all the details during your appointment Yes, he just called to remind me that I have a check-up tomorrow. Are you sure? You ve been acting different the past few weeks Later that day, Luisa goes to her best friend Ana s house for coffee. Don t worry, Luisa. I m fine. 7

10 How s your mom? Has she heard anything about her mammogram? My mom took your mom to her appointment a few weeks ago she didn t mention anything? What are you talking about? What mammogram? I knew it! I can t believe she s been lying to me! Luisa returns home to confront her mother I m sorry I didn t want to worry you. María and Carmen have been helping me, but I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow to get back my results I want to go with you this time. Why have you been lying to me about getting a mammogram? 8

11 Juana, there appears to be a small lump in your left breast. The next day, Juana returns to Dr. Domínguez s office with Luisa My goodness is it cancer? We will have to get a biopsy in order to tell. I am going to refer you to another doctor. In a few weeks, we will have more information to move forward. 9

12 Two weeks later Unfortunately, the biospy shows that there are cancerous cells in the lump. Oh no am I going to die? I never thought this would happen to me Your prognosis is good. We found the cancer early, so you have a few treatment options. I ve heard that treatment is very expensive. I don t even have insurance. How am I supposed to pay for all this? Don t worry. There are programs that can help pay for treatment costs. We will guide you through the process. 10

13 As Luisa and Juana leave Dr. Domínguez s office, they exchange a few words of comfort I m so glad you decided to get that mammogram. I don t know what I would do without you Me neither. It s not going to be easy, but I have faith that I can get through this with you by my side. END 11

14 CREDITS This project would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Actors: Baltimore City Community Members Dr. Ebenezer Oni as Dr. Domínguez Gabriela Siegel as Luisa Johana Jones as Ana Creative Team: Baltimore City Community Members Gilberto Lopez Sally Rodriguez Gabriela Siegel Project Advisor: Dr. Debra Roter Logistical Support: Ahmed Elmi Johana Jones Assisi House of St. Patrick, Baltimore Sponsored by: Photographer: Theron Scott Funded by the National Cancer Institute s Community Networks Program (CNP # U54CA153710)

15 Breast Cancer Facts What are common breast cancer symptoms? Lump or mass in breast tissue Swelling of the breast Breast or nipple pain Redness, scaling or thickening of the breast or nipple skin In some cases, there may be no visible symptoms at all Early detection Following the American Cancer Society s guidelines for early detection of breast cancer, breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully. These guidelines include: Mammogram: A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to look for signs of breast disease. Women age 40+ should have a mammogram every year as long as they are healthy. Can breast cancer be prevented? Breast cancer prevention starts with health living habits Maintain a healthy weight Include exercise in your daily activities Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages Find out if you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer Are you female? Are you over the age of 40? Do you have family members who have or have had breast cancer? If you responded yes to any of these questions, you may be at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Source: American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer: Early Detection, 2012 Clinical Breast Exam (CBE): CBE is a physical exam performed by a doctor or nurse to look for changes in breast size, shape and the presence of lumps. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a every 3 years as a part of regular care. Starting at age 40 women should have a CBE done every year. Breast-self-examination (BSE): BSE is a physical exam performed by on themselves to detect physical changes in the breast. Women starting in their 20s have the option to do a monthly BSE and report any changes to their doctor. For more information about breast health, call your doctor!