[2058] Getting connected: African-Americans living beyond breast cancer. Bradley P, Scharf M, Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Ardmore, PA Background: African-American women have been identified as a high-risk group for both an increased mortality rate and presentation for treatment at a later stage of disease. The perception of breast cancer as a death sentence has often been attributed to African-American women. Little has been documented regarding the positive coping and resiliency of African-American women to a breast cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this initiative was to create an easy-to-read, culturally relevant educational resource to be used by African-American breast cancer survivors, their support network and their health care providers. The primary intent of the publication is to promote informed decision-making, while providing support, encouragement, and inspiration to African-American women as they go through treatment and begin living beyond breast cancer. Methods: A consumer-based, qualitative process was used to create an easy-to-read, educational resource entitled Getting Connected: African-Americans Living Beyond Breast Cancer. This process featured three main components: 1) An Advisory Committee of breast cancer survivors and professionals working with African-Americans affected by breast cancer; 2) A needs assessment survey; and 3) Focus groups of African-American breast cancer survivors and their support persons. Results: Living positively beyond breast cancer is possible for African-American women through the use of spirituality, developing and maintaining positive connections and reaching out to others. An educational workshop for health care providers from various settings has been developed to accompany the Getting Connected publication. Using this resource as the centerpiece, an interactive workshop assists providers in cancer control outreach to minority women in a culturally relevant, literacy appropriate manner. The resource was favorably reviewed by the American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation's Health Education Program for Patients (HEPP) and is a recipient of the prestigious H. Winter Griffith Award for Excellence in Patient Education Materials. Discussion: Not all African-American women perceive breast cancer as an automatic death sentence. Positive coping to a breast cancer diagnosis is possible. The primary goal of Getting Connected is to promote informed decision-making, while providing support, encouragement and inspiration to African-American women as they go through diagnosis, treatment and begin living beyond breast cancer. More than 60,000 copies have been distributed to-date. Ann's NOTE: While I looked over this booklet, I chatted with the presenter. I asked her what they featured on CAM use among African-American women? She stated there was no content on CAM at all - "they did not feel qualified to comment". This is AWFUL. I suggested to her that her information on everything else came from some source, why not locate a source for CAM? Depressing. I hope they change that next year. This group Living Beyond Breast Cancer does terrific work and holds a conference for young survivors annually. We will be exhibiting at te 2007 event. Hopefully this will (clearly) demonstrate how critical the need for CAM information is! San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 12/06 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.