El Paso Curriculum

Curriculum Home

BREAST HEALTH

INTRODUCTION:

The breast health component will educate the students on the following breast cancer issues:

  • Probability
  • Risk factors
  • How to do breast self-exams
  • Pros and cons of mammograms
  • Healthy lifestyles that can help reduce the risk of breast cancer
  • An orientation to national and your local health advocacy organizations

 

CRITICAL DISCUSSION:

Use the Breast Health Fact Sheet to guide a discussion about breast health. The fact sheet can be used for students to follow along as the instructor guides the discussion, or the students can divide into groups to study the fact sheet and present what they learned.


READING ACTIVITY:

Have students form small groups and read through the Breast Health Fact Sheet after the instructor or student groups have presented the information. This will give the students a chance to review any information that they did not grasp.

Then have students read through the brochures on how to perform a Breast Self-Exam. If possible, try to find the brochures in English and some other of the students' native languages. You can also use other brochures from local health clinics or national organizations about breast cancer or mammograms.

 

WRITING ACTIVITY:

Have the students write a short essay addressing their fears and concerns about breast cancer or any other serious health condition. Ask them to think of some ways in which they can help prevent these conditions. Encourage them to write about some of the positive habits and/or lifestyle changes they can make to improve their health. Ask them to address the risk factors that they believe are possible to change( i.e. diet, exercise, reducing weight, stress reduction, etc.)

 

GROUP ACTIVITY:

Have the students watch the video "Women Take Care... Take Action." Then have students form small groups and discuss the video's impact.

Or

Use the story Breast Cancer As I Lived It (available in English and Spanish). Have the students take turns reading parts of the story aloud. Then form small groups and discuss the impact of the story.

OR

Divide the class into two groups (although they will do the activity as a whole class). One group will be in favor of getting regular mammograms and/or encouraging the women in their lives to do so. The other group will be skeptical. Have the groups stay in character and discuss the pros and cons, benefits and fears of mammograms.

 

ACTION ACTIVITY:

Identify some local or national organizations that do advocacy for cancer, breast cancer, or women's health. Then have the students, individually or in small groups, write letters to one or more of the organizations to obtain more current information on this subject. The materials they receive can be used in a research paper, and/or further presentation. This is also an excellent opportunity for the students to become aware of advocacy programs.

(You may want to use some of your own materials on proper letter format. This is also a good time to review address abbreviations and proper letter labeling when they send their letters to the following organizations.)

 

HANDOUTS AND BROCHURES NEEDED:

 
Health Literacy Curriculum