Is it true that Hispanic/Latino women with breast cancer are often diagnosed at later stages?
Yes. They put off coming in for early detection and screening, so when they do come in at this later stage, the tumors are much larger and are very difficult to treat. What are some of the obstacles in getting Hispanic/Latino women screened? Education about the importance of breast cancer screening is a major obstacle in this population. There have been very few bilingual education programs that are reaching this community. There is also a lack of insurance in this population, which presents another barrier. Often, screening is not covered in their primary insurance, or they simply don’t have insurance. Often, Hispanic people don’t qualify for insurance. They may have two part-time jobs, neither of which provides insurance. Are there any cultural barriers that might prevent Hispanic/Latino women from getting screened? Some Hispanic women have been brought up in a culture that frowns on women touching themselves, so many of these women are less likely to do the breast self-exam. Also, i
