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By Komen Denver, March 2, 2010 2:01 pm

No matter our background or culture, every woman is unique and different. So, when it comes to our health and how we care for ourselves, not all women can be approached the same way. For more than a decade the Denver Metropolitan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has provided education, access and invaluable life-saving services to some of Colorado’s most underserved populations by hosting the Multicultural Conference.

This year’s conference had an amazing turn out of 300+ vibrant people from different ethnic backgrounds. The conference featured culturally appropriate workshops aimed at specific ethnic groups, informational sessions with medical professionals and food and entertainment – also offered the opportunity to understand our similarities and differences, share information, learn more about breast health care and meet women of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

The Multicultural Conference is sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Women’s Wellness Connection and the Comprehensive Cancer Program.

Other members of the Conference’s planning committee included: the Asian Pacific Development Center, the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, the Center for African American Health, Clínica Tepeyac, the Colorado Cancer Research Program, the Colorado Asian Health and Education Promotion, the Deaf Community, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Jewish Family Services, Native American Cancer Research, the Philippine Nurses Association, Salud y Vida, and the Thai Buddhist Temple.

Take a look at images from the Multicultural Conference on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/komendenver

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By Komen Denver, July 7, 2009 2:14 pm

Colorado women face significant barriers to cancer screening and treatment, despite federal money available to pay for these services, a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) says. Uninsured and underinsured women in Colorado already know what the GAO study confirms: Colorado is one of the 16 most restrictive states in the nation when it comes to connecting low-income women with diagnosis and treatment.

Two of the findings really troubled us as an organization. The first was that due to a lack of funding, more than half of eligible low-income, uninsured and underinsured women nationwide are not receiving recommended breast cancer screening.

The second is that in more than a dozen states, including Colorado, have left in place restrictions to Medicaid coverage for breast and cervical cancer screening that effectively eliminate all but a small fraction of low-income women, leaving the rest with few options for assistance.

“Whether you live shouldn’t depend on where you live,” said Michele Ostrander, Executive Director of the Denver Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.  “Regretfully, this report confirms what we’ve long seen – that in our state your ability to be treated for breast cancer often depends on whether you went to the ‘right’ clinic, or live in a city or rural area.”

Few statewide options for treatment are available to low-income, uninsured women who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer but ineligible for Medicaid under the Treatment Act. This year, the Komen Denver Affiliate is providing more than $700,000 to help fill the treatment gap locally, and providing an additional $2.1 million for breast cancer screening, diagnostics and treatment support in the 12-county area surrounding Denver.