Among Latina women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the number one cancer killer. In a new book produced by Redes En Acción, 26 South Texas women who have fought this deadly disease describe the Latina breast cancer experience in their own words.

The book, Nuestras Historias: Mujeres Hispanas Sobreviviendo el Cáncer del Seno (Our Stories: Hispanic Women Surviving Breast Cancer), is a 114-page, full-color publication presented in both English and Spanish. Through the stories of the women, the book relates the influence of the Hispanic/Latino culture on the breast cancer experience and on the coping skills used by many of the Latina women in battling the disease.

"This book is dedicated to the millions of Latina women and their families who have and will continue to bravely fight the battle against breast cancer. Sadly, two of the courageous women who wrote and shared their stories in this book experienced a recurrence of cancer earlier this year and passed away prior to the publication date.

Download Our Stories: Hispanic Women Surviving Breast Cancer

PDF format, 8MB, 116Pages.

Nuestras Historias: Mujeres Hispanas Sobreviviendo el Cáncer del Seno
Our Stories: Hispanic Women Surviving Breast Cancer
Project Coordinator/Translator: Sandra San Miguel de Majors, MS
Editor: Dani Presswood
Translation Consultant: Patricia Chalela, MPH
Copy Editor/Research Coordinator: Julie Catalano
Photographer: Joan Snow
Graphic Designer: Jeffrey Heinke Design
Printer: Quadrangle Press, Inc.

Copyright © 2004 by Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Network

Visit Our Stories: Hispanic Women Surviving Breast Cancer Website

Introduction:

Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate. It’s a disease that affects all women. However, for Latina women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Latinas are diagnosed at later stages, and the uninsured are 2.3 times more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, resulting in lower survival rates than non-Hispanic white women. Overall, this group is less likely tosurvive for five years after diagnosis than non-Hispanic whites.

Worst of all, breast cancer is the number onecancer killer of Latinas. Statistics, however, only tell part of the story.

Although Latinos are now the largest minority population in the United States, very little has been written about the Latina cancer experience.

The goal of this book is to put a face on the statistical data and on this dreadful disease. In doing so, Nuestras Historias is an enduring testament to the fight against breast cancer amongLatina women.

We wanted to hear their stories, and many were proud to share them. Story after story of indomitable spirit and resolve, told with candor and without self-pity. We met women forced to deal with – in addition to cancer itself –depression, fear, financial worries, and the heartbreaking possibility of leaving loved ones behind.

But common themes soon surfaced: faith, family, and friends kept emerging as sources of strength, comfort and, most of all, hope. Coping skills and courage were rooted in likely and unlikely places – prayer, humor, books, music, dance, even beloved pets. Resiliency was a constant companion. Time and again, these women found new wellsprings of power within that they never knew they possessed. Regardless of each woman’s journey through this experience, the story remained the same: their lives were forever changed.

In their stories, you will find practical advice as well: the importance of early screening, the value of perseverance, and the invaluable assistance of organizations helping patients navigate through the health care system. Almost to a person, these women wanted to be part of a legacy of education that would inform and help others.

Finally, this book is dedicated to the women themselves, both the ones you will meet here and those who continue this battle everyday. We hope that you will find their messages of faith, hope, and love as inspirational, enlightening, and life affirming as we did.

Amelie G. Ramirez, DrPH
Principal Investigator
Redes En Acción: The National Hispanic/Latino Cancer Network

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