September 13, 2016 — Are You Dense Inc., in collaboration with Madre Latina Inc., recently announced a new set of educational breast health resources in Spanish. Named E.M.P.O.W.E.R.E.D. (Early Matters: Providing Opportunities With Educational Resources for Early Detection), the resource set features educational literature and a video with English captions urging women to be smart about breast cancer screening options, including knowledge of their breast density for optimum breast health. A survivor's story, a call to breast health action from a Latina leader and a physician, frame the short video.
Yoellie Iglesias, director of Madre Latina Inc., said, "The video is empowering, giving women the ability to be ambassadors of our breast health."
Obstetrician/gynecologist Claudia Grogean, M.D., said, "This video is a welcomed educational resource for my Hispanic and Latina patients and women across the globe."
Nancy M. Cappello, Ph.D., founder and director of Are You Dense Inc. and Are You Dense Advocacy Inc., also a video contributor, explained that dense breast tissue hides cancerous tumors on mammogram, making cancer difficult to detect until much further along. "Our mission is clear — first, ensuring that no woman suffers the tragedy of a preventable late-stage diagnosis and second, eliminating barriers to adjunct screening, such as ultrasound and MRI [magnetic resonance imaging]. We are especially grateful to the Connecticut Community Foundation for funding this targeted outreach effort."
Also included in E.M.P.O.W.E.R.E.D. are a Breast Cancer Risk Checklist and a Patient Brochure. The checklist is designed for download so patients can track their personal risk factors, including breast density. The Patient Brochure provides fast facts about density and addresses questions about other common screening tools a patient may be recommended to have in addition to their mammogram.
The American Cancer Society reports breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in Hispanic/Latina women, as they are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced disease compared to white non-Hispanic population. A preliminary study by Beth A. Jones, Ph.D., MPH director, Smilow Screening & Prevention Program, assistant director Diversity/Health Equity, Yale Cancer Center and a collaborator on the EMPOWERED project, furthered these findings in Connecticut by examining mammography screening and understanding of dense breast tissue in this population. "I am gratified that our research motivated the launching of the EMPOWERED program for this population," added Jones.
For more information: www.areyoudense.org
April 18, 2024 
