PHOENIX LEADERSHIP MINI-SUMMIT

The National Cancer Institute and 12 other leading national health
organizations endorse and publicize a recommended schedule of repeated
cancer screening by mammography. Researchers have calculated that breast
cancer deaths would decrease by at least 30% if these guidelines were
followed. Yet, for a multitude of reasons (e.g., cost, perceptions of low
risk, lack of physician referral, others unknown), compliance with
mammography screening among American women is low. Additionally, there is
a desperate need for research and interventions in the area of cancer
prevention and control for Hispanic populations. Given (a) the cancer
burden and the lack of appropriate interventions among Hispanic groups and
(b) the promise of mammography as an effective screening strategy, special
attention should be given to reach minority (Hispanic) women with breast
cancer information and screening opportunities. This will further our
ability to reach the National Cancer Institute's goal of reducing the
national cancer mortality rate by 50% by the year 2000. The worksite provides a unique channel for implementing cancer prevention
interventions which have the potential to significantly influence the
health habits of employees and their families. Through the dissemination
of information and persuasive messages, instruction in skills,
development, and distribution of cues-to-action, grassroots community
level education programs and worksite interventions can play a significant
role in increasing women's awareness and proper practice of breast cancer
screening strategies. The primary objective of this project is the design, implementation and
evaluation of a Breast Cancer Education Mini-Summit in Phoenix, Arizona,
as an extension of the National Cancer Institute's National Breast Cancer
Summit Program and the Regional Breast Cancer Education Summit held in
Tucson, Arizona in 1992. Specifically, the Phoenix Leadership Mini-Summit
will (1) provide a catalyst for activating the Phoenix business community,
its leaders and community organizations and (2) provide a forum for the
dissemination of state-of-the-art information about the early detection
and treatment of breast cancer tailored to a target audience of business
communicators and human resource professionals. This will be done in a
effort to motivate this network of intermediaries to generate and
implement lasting worksite breast cancer education and screening programs
for women, especially minorities, in the Phoenix area in an attempt to
reach the Healthy People 2000 objective for breast cancer.