Abstract ADV18: American indian screening initiatives: Gaining trust- reducing disparities.

Abstract

Abstract The Montana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is dedicated to combating breast cancer at every front. Up to 75 percent of the Affiliate's net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs for medically underserved women. The remaining income supports the national Komen Grants Programs, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world. The Montana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure serves the 4th largest geographic area in the country. American Indians living throughout Montana as members of seven distinct and independent tribal reservations, most in rural or “frontier” regions of the state. American Indian women in MT are more likely to live in poverty, be uninsured and face a higher risk of death from breast cancer due to late diagnosis. To address this, Komen Montana has embarked on a comprehensive approach to address disparities and barriers that American Indian Women face in breast cancer screening. Since 2002, Komen Montana has funded screening mammography programs including funding mobile mammography clinics at PowWow events. Komen MT has partners with state as private agencies to identify traditional beliefs and Native cultural beliefs that serve as a deterrent to quality breast health programs. Most recently, a Komen Montana Community Grant, “Going Pink on the Red Road: has facilitated formation of a seven-tribe advisory council to draw upon the strengths of tribal representatives in the development of culturally specific resources and methods. Komen Montana seeks to provide a significantly positive impact for American Indian women in the area of breast health by decreasing barriers, increasing culture-specific access and intervention, and decreasing the morbidity and mortality among Native women. Citation Format: Kim Powell. American indian screening initiatives: Gaining trust- reducing disparities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr ADV18. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-ADV18