| BAPS Charities
Asian Indian Women’s Pink Sari Breast Health Awareness Workshop
In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States. Approximately 1,970 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. An estimated 40,230 breast cancer deaths (39,840 women, 390 men) are expected in 2010; breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women.
To tackle breast cancer health literacy disparities in underserved Asian Indian minority women over 40 who do not understand English or have the means to get an annual mammogram, BAPS Charities organized Asian Indian Women’s Pink Sari Breast Health Awareness workshop in Philadelphia, Lansdale and Delaware in October 2010.
On October 9, 2010, over 210 women attended the Breast Health workshop in Philadelphia, PA where the participants got guidance about the risk factors, how early detection increases survival and treatment options from Dr. Archana Kokroo. She also spoke about the treatment of breast cancer. The participants also took a survey after receiving the breast health education. The Breast Health Workshop education was very effective with over 98% correctly answering the mammogram question and over 99% correctly answering that breast cancer risk increases with age. Over 80% of the respondents understood that regular mammograms should begin when a women reaches 40 in age. 10 women signed up for the free mammograms with St Mary’s Hospital.
On October 23, 2010, an additional Women’s Pink Sari Breast Health Workshop presented in Gujarati by Dr. Dipti Shah was conducted in Lansdale, Montgomery County . 61 women attended the Lansdale Breast Health Workshop.8 women signed up for mammograms at the Lansdale Breast Health Workshop.
On October 24, 2010, a separate Women’s Pink Sari Breast Health Workshop was successfully conducted in New Castle, Delaware. Presented in Gujarati by Dr. Mona Parikh and Dr. Monica Gupta. Mammogram resources were provided by Helen F. Graham Cancer Center. Over 125 women attended the workshop.
The Pink Sari Breast Health Workshops in Lansdale and New Castle were the first time that these BAPS Charities centers conducted breast health workshops. By having three Pink Sari Breast Health Workshops in October at BAPS Charities centers in or near the four Philadelphia surrounding counties, BAPS Charities was able to increase breast health awareness for underserved Asian Indian women in the critical Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware Counties.
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