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You are now viewing the project titled Meet the Challenge Breast Cancer Support Group
TITLE:	Meet the Challenge Breast Cancer Support Group
PROJECT COORDINATOR:	Ana Zotelo, Women's health Education Officer
PROJECT PARTNERSHIPS:	Colleen Carter,Palliative care Clnical Nurse Specialist
PROJECT SUMMARY:	To establish a multicultural breast cancer support group in the Fairfield area
TARGET GROUP:	Women from all cultural backgrounds living in the Fairfield area who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.
HEALTH ISSUE:	Breast cancer
GOALS: Health Outcome	 To increase understanding of breast cancer and its treatments  To increase awareness of breast cancer services  To decrease the incidence of complications following surgery/treatment (lymphoedema, dehydration, constipation, etc).  To increase self esteem (conceptions of physical and personal selves, body image, etc).  To reduce stress following diagnosis of breast cancer  To improve communication among health professionals
STRATEGIES: Process Activities	 Educational sessions on issues such as breast cancer, genetics, clinical trials and treatments.  Provision of information on services available for breast cancer sufferers by means of presentation by guest speakers or written information (pamphlets in different languages, etc).  Educational sessions on issues such as lymphoedema prevention and management, diet, etc.  Provision of a non-threatening environment where women can share their experiences and ventilate their feelings. Discussion on issues such as definition of self-esteem, confidence, self worth, relationships and ways of taking better care of themselves physically and emotionally.  Relaxation exercises, aromatherapy sessions, massage, and outings.  Media release (local multicultural radio and newspapers, school newsletters, GP newsletters). Tear-off pads sponsored by a drug company distributed to health professional in order to refer clients during consultations.
TIME FRAME: (Start)	July 1999
TIME FRAME: (Finish)	On going
FUNDING:	Ethnic Health Funding
The areas of the Health Continuum that the project addresses are:
Creating supportive environments for health Reorienting health services Developing health literacy Improving health services for women Training health care providers Increasing participation of women in decision making in health Research and data collection
EVALUATION:	 Pre and post educational sessions questionnaires  Client surveys about services (ie. Where did you hear about us?)  Statistical data about occasions of services  Palliative care/PHN teams surveys on incidence of complications  Statistical data on number of participants who continue with their roles in society such as work, motherhood issues, marital relationships, etc.  Number of published articles, radio announcements  Group attendance records
RESOURCES:	Referral source for health professionals

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