Komen Foundation To Teach Breast Health Awareness At Asian-American Women's Event
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Susan G. Komen Foundation is hoping to empower generations of Asian-American women at its annual breast health awareness event tomorrow.
Breast Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Asian women in the U.S. And for Asian women living in America, there's a 60 percent higher chance of receiving the diagnosis than women living in Asia.
"Compared to other women, Asian American women are least likely to have a mammogram," says Dr. Nina Ahmad, chair of the Mayor's Commission on Asian Affairs. She will be speaking at tomorrow's event at the Sheraton in Center City. "Anecdotally, one of the reasons is many Asian families don't have health insurance because they run small businesses and they can't afford it. One of the other reasons is that Asian women, like most women, put themselves last."
"Statistics show that Asian women are sharing almost the same problems that Caucasian women are," says Elaine Grobman, president of Komen Philadelphia. She says the goal of the event is to educate Asian American women about breast health by making the information more accessible.
"The information will be shared in 11 dialects, plus English," says Grobman. "We will provide information and the opportunity for a free mammogram if needed."
The free event will includes workshops, speakers and entertainment. It starts at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow, June 1st. For more info, KomenPhiladelphia.org.
