Nebraska Breast Cancer
Control Partnership Network
April 2015 Update
www.bcpartnerships.net
Enhancing Patient Communication 
Nurse with a patient in the hospital The Institute of Medicine has designated all communication about medicines as "high risk" situations. Learn what you can do to reduce the risk at the next free Plain Language on the Plains webinar, April 14, 12-1PM CT offered by Health Literacy Nebraska. Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Associate Director for the Center for Drug Information and Evidence-Based Practice at Creighton University is the featured presenter of Health Literacy at the Pharmacy Counter. Download the flyer or register here

Dialogues About Breast Cancer, an interactive performance by the University of Missouri Interactive Theatre Troupe that focuses on the need for better understanding and communication between providers and patients in breast cancer screening and treatment will be held from 6-8pm, April 30 at the Harper Center on the Creighton University campus in Omaha. The performance, designed for health care providers, medical students and the community, is free and open to the public. Registration is required.  Funding is provided by Susan G. Komen� Nebraska.

Professional education opportunities and tools designed to build skills in health literacy, cultural competency and other related topics are featured in the Partnership Network's Provider Education website section. Visit it here.
The Art of Living: Supporting Survivorship

Join us for a positive, life-affirming experience as we explore The Art of Living with Cancer, the first annual cancer conference sponsored by A Time to HealSaturday, May 2 at the Community Engagement Center on the University of Nebraska-Omaha campus. Developed for both health care professionals and survivors, the conference offers CEUs for nurses, social workers and licensed mental health practitioners. Download the conference brochure. Keynote presentations will be given by Dr. Ed Creagan from the Mayo Clinic, Michael Samuelson, author of Voices from the Edge, and Dr. Nora Disis, a Susan G. Komen� scholar and researcher focused on cancer and the immune system. Twelve locally-facilitated breakout sessions will provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, including special interest panel discussions for young adults, caregivers, and those with metastatic disease. Learn more and register

Reducing Disparities in Nebraska
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April is National Minority Health Month and marks the 30th anniversary of the Heckler Report, a landmark paper released in 1985 that elevated minority health to the national stage. This milestone anniversary provides an opportunity to highlight national and local efforts in eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity.

Learn more about national initiatives here.

 

On the local level, the Metro African American Breast Cancer Task Force is working to make a difference in Nebraska by recruiting local women to serve as "breast cancer screening advocates" among their friends and family members. For more information about the project, contact Jackie Hill or LaShaune Johnson, Task Force Co-Chairs. 


 
For an additional perspective, attend Thomas A. LaVeist's presentation: My Journey to Understand Why Health Disparities Exist and What To Do About It, April 22, 12-1pm, in the Harper Center at Creighton University as part of the University's Distinguished Lecture series. 

New Phone App Aids Breast Cancer Research
binary-beams-abstract.jpg Share the Journey, a new smartphone app that can help women track the physical, mental, and emotional after-effects of breast cancer treatment is being developed by the nonprofit biomedical research organization Sage Bionetworks with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Developed in collaboration with experts in the field, and supported by leading organizations in the breast cancer community, the goal of the project is to help millions of people understand and manage effects of their breast cancer treatment while contributing to a body of knowledge that can smooth the journeys of those to follow. Learn more
Breast Cancer Awareness On the Road

April 15 is the deadline to apply for a specialty Nebraska license plate to promote breast cancer screening. While anyone interested in the $70 specialty plate can get the instructions and download the license plate application form on the Susan G. Komen� Nebraska website , no proceeds will benefit the organization. Because the state of Nebraska requires 500 pre-paid applications prior to manufacturing a specialty plate, no checks will be cashed until 500 applications have been received. Applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Contact Angela Phillips, 402.502.2979, ext. 202 for more information. 

Upcoming Events

April 3 - Living with Cancer in Nebraska, a locally-produced hour-long special by Nebraska Educational Television, 7 p.m. (CT) on NET1. Watch powerful stories as leading experts and those personally affected by cancer discuss rural health, advancements in treatments, and how cancer impacts families. Learn more here  

 

April 14 - Health Literacy at the Pharmacy Counter, free webinar, 12-1pm(see Communication article above). 

 

April 22 - Distinguished Lecture: Thomas A. LaVeist - "My Journey to Understand Why Health Disparities Exist and What To Do About It," 12-1pm, Harper Center, Creighton University (see Disparities article above).


April 24-26 - Project Pink'd Renewal Retreat, designed for breast cancer survivors at least one year post-diagnosis. Space is limited. Apply online here. For more information, contact Cynthia Sturgeon.


April 29 - NC2 Cancer Summit, 8am-3pm at the Country Inn and Suites, Lincoln. View conference brochure here. Keynote presentations by Dr. Richard Wender, Chief Cancer Control Officer for the American Cancer Society; Dr. Daron Ferris; and Dave Holmquist, ACS CAN. Breakout session topics include oral chemo adherence, nutrition, the Affordable Care Act's effect on screening, and survivorship care planning. Learn more and register here

 

Apr. 30 - Dialogues About Breast Cancer Interactive Theater, 6pm in Omaha (see Communication article above). For details and to RSVP, click here.


May 2 - The Art of Living with Cancer (see Survivorship article above)

 

May 14 - El Encuentro de La Mujer Sana, a Latina Women's Health Summit, 9:00-1:00 pm, St. Benedict Center, Schuyler. For more information, contact Maritza Andrade.

 

May 15 - Nebraska Breast and Cervical Cancer Advisory Committee Meeting, Board Room, Country Inn & Suites, Lincoln, 5353 N. 27th St., 10:00-11:30am; Provider Education and  Community Education Work Group meetings, 1-3:30pm. Contact Lori Vidlak for more information. 

Free Resource

Women of Color Health Data Book, 4th Edition from HHS/NIH Office of Research on Women's Health. Provides US Census data on different populations of women and health updates for women of color.