Promoting Breast Cancer Screening through Storytelling by Chamorro Cancer Survivors

  • Rosa Duenas Manglona California Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors Alliance
  • Suzanne Robert California Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors Alliance
  • Lucy San Nicolas Isaacson California Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors Alliance
  • Marie Garrido California Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors Alliance
  • Faye Babauta Henrich California Chamorro Breast Cancer Survivors Alliance
  • Lola Sablan-Santos Guam Communications Network
  • Daisy Le University of California, Los Angeles
  • Ruth Peters California State University Fullerton

Abstract

The largest Chamorro population outside of Guam and the Mariana Islands reside in California. Cancer health disparities disproportionally affect Pacific Islander communities, including the Chamorro, and breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women. To address health concerns such as cancer, Pacific Islander women frequently utilize storytelling to initiate conversations about health and to address sensitive topics such as breast health and cancer. One form of storytelling used in San Diego is a play that conveys the message of breast cancer screening to the community in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way. This play, Nan Nena’s Mammogram, tells the story of an older woman in the community who learns about breast cancer screening from her young niece. The story builds upon the underpinnings of Chamorro culture - family, community, support, and humor - to portray discussing breast health, getting support for breast screening, and visiting the doctor. The story of Nan Nena’s Mammogram reflects the willingness of a few pioneering Chamorro women to use their personal experiences of cancer survivorship to promote screening for others. Through the support of a Chamorro community-based organization, these Chamorro breast cancer survivors have used the success of Nan Nena’s Mammogram to expand their education activities and to form a new cancer survivor organization for Chamorro women in San Diego.
Published
2010-12-15
How to Cite
Manglona, R. D., Robert, S., Isaacson, L. S. N., Garrido, M., Henrich, F. B., Sablan-Santos, L., Le, D., & Peters, R. (2010). Promoting Breast Cancer Screening through Storytelling by Chamorro Cancer Survivors. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 8(SI), 90-95. https://doi.org/10.32398/cjhp.v8iSI.2046