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Researchers from The University of Sydney believe they have found a way to deliver life-saving messages about breast cancer prevention to the community of older Chinese women living in Sydney.

RN Dr Cannas Kwok, a Cancer Institute NSW Research Fellow in

the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery explains that Chinese cultural norms make these women reluctant to talk about breasts and breast health. Moreover language is a significant barrier. The majority of breast cancer education, health publications and leaflets, are in English, which migrant women cannot read or read with difficulty.

The Illustrations in this material featuring western women "tends to strengthen their perception that breast cancer is a disease confined to caucasian women," said Dr Kwok.

To overcome these barriers, Dr Kwok and colleagues in the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, devised a "culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate" program, which aimed to educate a group of "breast health advocates" to move into the Chinese community to raise awareness of breast health, breast cancer screening and early detection among women.

Potential advocates were invited to participate in the program called "Living with healthy breasts--be a breast health advocate". The program consisted of a one day education seminar and a follow-up education day six weeks later. Both days were held in Sydney's Chinatown.

Over 35 women attended the first information day covering four sessions in total. Two sessions focused on issues of breast health, breast screening and cultural misconceptions and myths. The other two sessions were devoted to training potential advocates on how to communicate their message. Each of the women received an information kit containing culturally sensitive materials and brochures about breast cancer, and simple summaries of the education sessions in a CD for them to use and circulate among their peers. "We encouraged the trainee advocates to talk to friends, work colleagues and their families about what they learned," said Dr Koo, an expert in Chinese health preventive behaviours.

"We were delighted that more half of the original participants attended the follow-up day," Dr Koo said. "They reported enthusiastically on their advocacy activities; gained confidence and found that because discussions took place within a common cultural context, Chinese women had proved open to talking about the subject. All women agreed there was an urgent need for this kind of program, not only for breast cancer but also other women's health concerns such as pap smears."

While the research team is pleased with the response, Dr Kwok says that it also indicates the pressing need for more culturally sensitive educational efforts about breast cancer to be made available within the migrant Chinese community throughout Australia. The team is exploring how to extend the breast health advocate program to more cities and regional centres in other parts of the country.

The research team on this project included Dr Cannas Kwok, Professor Kate White, Ms Natalie D'Abrew and Dr Fung Kuen Koo. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Lions Club of Sydney Waratah and funded by the Cancer Institute of NSW.