Melissa with the Mayor of Hebron and local surgeon

  Only a few decades ago women were dying from undetected breast cancer in the United States. In the early 1970s, Dr. Harold Freeman recognized that women in Harlem New York were dying of breast cancer at nearly 80% from controllable barriers to care; lack of knowledge, support, transportation, fear, and cultural stigma. Navigation training of lay women was developed and within a few short years breast cancer deaths plummeted to about 30%.

This is where Breast Advocates International (BAI) helps. We develop unique relationships with existing local groups and the Ministry of Health to identify and train local women with interest as breast advocates and navigators. These trusted community members are educated on the premise of a cure if cancer is found in early stages. Those local women go back into their villages armed with knowledge, tools and resources to support and education village women to find anomalies (lumps) and break down the stigmas and barriers once a lump is discovered. These advocates navigate the services the women might need and break down the barriers of care.

 
  Humble village on the Lake Malawi

 This sustainable program gives medical and non-medical workers the education and tools they need to end the myths, superstitions, stigmas and shame that surround cancer. Education includes breast anatomy and anomalies, navigation tools, gaining trust, resource development, self breast exams, and clinical breast exams to find potentially life threatening lumps earlier and get these women the attention they need. When a suspicious lump is identified our trained advocates utilize navigation to move those women through the system for a biopsy, and if cancer is diagnosed to a surgeon.

   Breast cancer is of paramount concern to women’s health. It is the most common invasive cancer in the world; more than 1.4 million women are diagnosed every year.[1] Even though the mortality rates have drastically decreased in the United States, not so in underserved countries like Africa.  Statistics in the rural villages of Africa are extremely limited due again, the lack of recognition or available services for diagnosis or even limited treatment.  Barriers often insurmountable without outside intervention.

 Breast Advocates International is committed to contributing to each of the communities we are invited to serve by offering education, mentoring, training and the tools that are locale-tailored through research using an extensive needs assessment. Through partnerships that are being forged with hospitals, surgeons, health organizations and other nonprofit organizations, Breast Advocates International is gaining access to the women around the world that most need our help.