Cancer Resources

The Shaw Circle project is developed by the Florida Department of Health. The project empowers American Indian women and teaches them about HIV prevention and breast and cervical cancer early detection.

Native C.I.R.C.L.E. is a resource center, within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, which provides cancer-related materials. These materials may teach prevention, detection, treatment or all three. These health education resources are made available to healthcare professionals and to lay people involved in the education, care and treatment of American Indians and Alaska Natives. To order any of these materials:

  • Call toll-free: 1-877-372-1617
  • Fax: 1-507-538-0504
  • E-mail: nativecircle@mayo.edu

Mesothelioma Center is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date information in the hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos cancer. Statistics show women are approximately 50% more likely to develop mesothelioma than men when exposed to asbestos. The majority of asbestos exposures among women occur due to secondary exposure, when asbestos fibers are brought into the home from an exterior setting.

  • For more information, visit: www.asbestos.com
  • Call toll-free: 1-800-615-2270
  • Visit the Treatment page: Mesothelioma Treatment

Quality of Life-

(Need participants to fill out survey)

The Quality of Life Project aims to provide cancer resources specific to Native American cancer survivors and their families. This site addresses the increase of cancer incidence and mortality among the Native American population. To complete a survey or to learn more about this project and the efforts being made to provide the most up-to-date health information for cancer patients and survivors please email Betty KillsNight or call 1-866-464-9472 ext. 109 or 110. Survivors who complete the survey will receive a phone card or a gift card.


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The following are brief summaries of available printed materials:

Wellness

Simple Steps to Prevent Cancer

This is a small-format, 23-page booklet with excellent and important information on nutrition, exercise, alcohol use, etc. But it is a higher than usual reading level. Also, the format is not eye-watching, which would make it a little easier to follow. This good information would be even better, if it were available with American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) graphics.

Native C.I.R.C.L.E. (Cancer Information Resource Center and Learning Exchange) Resource Catalog

This is an extensive list of over 200 health resource materials available FREE through Native Circle at their toll-free number: 1-877-372-1617. Their materials range from wellness to cancer, diabetes, nutrition, smoking cessation and beyond. They include materials for men as well as women and a few for young people.

General Cancer Information

This brochure is a brief, but thorough overview of the seven most common cancers in women: lung, breast, colon, uterine, ovarian, cervical and skin. It discusses “the facts,” “ who is at risk,” and “the best defense.” It’s an excellent summary for general health education use.

American Indians/Alaska Natives & Cancer

18 facts about native people and cancer are compiled in this two page (4 sides), handout produced by the Intercultural Cancer Council in Houston, Texas. It’s a good overview of general cancer statistics for native people, but probably of more value to health care workers than general community audiences, because it is a little technical. It is also valuable because it lists references for every cancer statistic.

Breast Care

Native American Women Be in Harmony With Your Body With Good Breast Care

This is a small, card-stock handout which depicts self-breast exam, clinical breast exam and a woman getting a mammogram. The front graphics are plains-style Native American; the back drawings are generic females. This would be a good handout at an event or to give as a reminder with a presentation.

Take Charge of Your Body, Examine Your Breasts

This little yellow and purple shower card has instructions for a thorough breast exam on one side and supportive, educational and reinforcing statements about why it’s important to do a self-breast exam on the other side. It’s a colorful, practical handout, especially after a presentation.

Breast Self-examination for Older Women

Finally, drawings that look like a real woman, not a Cosmo cover girl. This is an excellent, well-organized one-page, two-sided cardstock handout that does a good job of teaching how to do a complete breast self-exam (BSE).

Breast Conditions (not cancerous)

Fibrocystic Breasts: A Non-Disease

This American Cancer Society brochure has a good discussion of what fibrocystic changes are, with a good breast diagram. There are no other pictures.

Fibrocystic Breasts – Understanding Changes in Your Breasts

This brochure provides an adequate overview of fibrocystic breast problems. The artwork is generic female. An AI/AN version would be better.

Understanding Breast Changes: A Health Guide for All Women

Although it is 52 pages, this is an excellent, thorough guide which should be available as a library resource for all clinics and especially NBCCEDP (National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Programs). This booklet would be best given to a woman with a new lump which has not been diagnosed yet or someone who wants more comprehensive information on breast lumps, cancer detection and options for cancer treatment. The only drawback is a slightly higher reading level.

Mammograms

Mammography

Simple and straightforward is this handy handout (3 3/4x9”, cardstock) which does an excellent job of education about breast lump size as found by BSE vs mammogram, for example, plus four simple facts about mammograms. It’s a good, small handout for health fairs or other outreach and educational activities.

The Facts About Breast Cancer and Mammograms

This colorful, 5-page booklet is an excellent discussion of a woman’s risk for breast cancer. It has easy-to-read tables on risk by age group and the benefits of mammograms by age (for the general US population). It also contains good referral information: 800-number and website.

Breast Cancer

What You Need to Know about Breast Cancer

This is a very well-done, 50-page booklet about breast cancer, especially diagnosis and treatment options. It is well-organized and should be a great resource in a clinic or program lending library or to keep on hand for the newly-diagnosed woman. The only drawback is a slightly higher-than-usual reading level.

Breast Cancer Questions and Answers

This brochure is a brief overview of 9 commonly-asked questions about breast cancer, including about risk, screening, what if cancer is found, and what are the chances of survival. It should be good for creating awareness in waiting rooms and exam rooms.

Having a Pelvic Exam and Pap Test

This is an adequate brochure summarizing the Pap smear and pelvic exam. It is probably best used as a group discussion tool, because the exam description might put off some girls and women, if the brochure is just left out for general viewing in a waiting room, etc…

The Path for Health

This is a good, basic, complete, but brief brochure encouraging Indian women to get their Pap smear. It’s very effectively done. The graphics ought to be good with all AI/AN women.

The Pap Test and Abnormal Test Results

This is an excellent, easily understandable discussion of Pap smears, of minimizing risks of cervical cancer, and about abnormal results. It gives a brief description of Colposcopy and the need for follow-up. The brochure cover has a sketch of a native woman and ribbon work borders.

Colposcopy

This is a very brief, but good summary brochure on having Colposcopy: before, during and after. It should be excellent for girls and women who need to get Colposcopy, although all the images are of adult or middle-aged women. The images are generic female.

What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Cervix

This is an excellent, informative well-written 27-page booklet (plus 10 pages of glossary of medical terms as well as suggested resources) that would be helpful to cervical cancer patients and their families. They should keep it as reference while undergoing diagnosis and treatment procedures.

Cancer of the Ovary

What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Ovary

This is a 21-page overview of ovarian cancer. It discusses who is at risk as well as diagnosis, treatment and emotional support needs. It is well-organized and thorough. In the back there are suggested resources and a list of questions to ask the doctor. The only drawback is the higher reading level (probably high school).

Cancer of the Uterus

What You Need to Know About Cancer of the Uterus

This is a thorough, 33-page summary of cancer of the uterus. Besides diagnosis and risk factors, it gives a complete discussion of treatment methods. In addition to a glossary of terms, it lists several printed telephone and on-line resources. The only limitation of this well-put-together booklet is its high reading level (probably high school).

For information about Cancer Programs and Resources, go to: