Local Resources

Thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors, the Komen Southern Arizona Affiliate is able to fund many breast-health and breast cancer-related programs in this area.

Arizona Orthopaedic Research Center, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute
Lymphedema Treatment and Education         
Project Director: Lori Bryant, MFA, BS  
2424 N Wyatt Drive, Suite 130
Tucson, AZ 85712-6115
Phone: 520-784-6591
Fax: 520-784-6574
Email: lbryant@tucsonortho.com

Arizona Orthopaedic Research Center (AORC) located at Tucson Orthopaedic Institute (TOI) specializes in the treatment of lymphedema, with a special focus on breast cancer patients. The two therapists have worked with lymphedema patients since 2000 and have established relationships with local and rural physicians, specifically in Santa Cruz and Cochise counties.  The therapists would like to expand their outreach in Southern Arizona through education and collaboration with as yet un-reached counties.  The studies indicate that Graham-Greenlee and Tohono-O'odham communities exhibit some of the greatest needs for treatment and education. The therapists expect to treat a minimum of 75 women and develop improved awareness of lymphedema prevention and treatment in Southern Arizona counties by targeting referral sources in three new counties.

Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc
Women’s Outreach
Project Director: Celeste Vasquez
1205 “F” Avenue
Douglas, AZ 85607-1920
Phone: 520-364-3285 ext 321
Fax: 520-364-3378
Email: cvasquez@cchci.org

Through three clinic facilities (Bisbee, Douglas and Elfrida), a mobile medical unit and an outreach team, CCHCI travels to remote areas to reach women where they live and work.  Through their efforts, hundreds of women miles from established communities receive quality care, financial resources, emotional support, treatment services and technical assistance from skilled, understanding providers who know about the struggle of daily life along this border.  This is a unique effort that truly embraces the Susan G. Komen for the Cure mission.

El Rio Health Center, Inc.      
Preventive Intervention Project¨ “Embracing the Family” “Abrazo para la Familia”
Project Director: Susan Marks, MPH
3480 E Britannia Drive, Bldg. B, Suite 120
Tucson, AZ 85706-5007
Phone: 520-990-1182
Fax:  520-670-3792
Email: SusanM2@elrio.org

This project addresses the breast health needs of the underserved Tucson Hispanic population including survivors, family members and co-survivors.  Three one-hour sessions will be offered in Spanish, tailored to the needs of each family.  Topics will include cancer information and navigating cancer-related systems, communicating and problem solving, building emotional support and skill development.  The goal is to reach 53 low-income Hispanic families, or a total of 144 family members and breast cancer survivors, to participate in one of the 18 prevention intervention sessions.

Mariposa Community Health Center, Inc.   
Juntos Contra El Cancer
Project Director: Susan Kunz, MPH
1852 N Mastick Way
Nogales, AZ 85621-1063
Phone:  520- 375-6050
Fax:   520-761-2153
Email:  Skunz@mariposachc.net

Juntos Contra El Cancer (Together Against Cancer) is a promotora-based outreach, screening, treatment, referral, education and support program which serves all women in Santa Cruz County, the majority of which being of  Hispanic/Latina or Mexican-American and Mexican origin.  The program coordinates with the Well Woman HealthCheck Program managed by MCHC and Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital, together casting a net to cover the uninsured or underinsured.  In FY 2010, Juntos Contra El Cancer will provide enhanced services at less cost per breast cancer survivor, by using five trained breast cancer survivors as lay leaders, in keeping with cultural  and language appropriateness of services.  Juntos Contra el Cancer will also formalize collaborations with Tucson Orthopaedic Institute to treat lymphedema and Bag It to provide education materials to women undergoing breast cancer diagnosis or newly-diagnosed with breast cancer.
   

Pima County Health Department    
Bridging the Gap        
Project Director: Victoria Altamirano, MAeD
332 S Freeway
Tucson, AZ 85745-3232
Phone: 520-628-3591
Fax: 520-624-8361
Email: Victoria.Altamirano@pima.gov

Along with Well Woman HealthCheck Program in Pima County, “Bridging the Gap” assists funding breast cancer screening, diagnostics and, in some cases, treatment for un/underinsured women ages 40-49 residing in Pima County. The focus of this project is to offer breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment specifically targeting minority women in rural areas who do not qualify for other services, such as the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program through AHCCCS and other charitable accounts.  Currently Well Woman HealthCheck works with El Rio Health Center, Pima County Family Planning, Marana Health Center and Keeling Health Center to offer screening and diagnostic testing for those women needing screening services and/or further evaluation. “Bridging the Gap” will enable the Well Woman HealthCheck to provide more services to underserved women in Pima County.

Regional Center for Border Health, Inc.   
“Entre Amigas-Between Friends” Community Awareness Education Program
Project Director: Tuly Medina
214 W Main St – PO Box 617
Somerton, AZ 85350-0617
Phone: 928-627-9222
Fax: 928-627-8773
Email: tulymedina@rcfbh.org

Between Friends’ mission is to increase the awareness of early breast cancer detection and breast health among economically disadvantaged and uninsured women living in medically underserved communities throughout Yuma County.
To carry out this goal, Between Friends will provide cultural and sensitive breast health education and promotion of healthy lifestyles, early breast cancer detection and treatment by working with a well-trained cadre of Health Outreach Workers. A total of 5,000 women will be provided with breast cancer awareness education and advocacy services throughout rural and medically underserved communities.
 

St. Elizabeth’s Health Center
Breast cancer treatment for patients of St. Elizabeth’s Health Center
Project Director: Dana Pepper, RN, MPA
140 W Speedway Blvd., #100
Tucson, AZ 85705-7698
Phone: 520-628-7871
Fax: 520-205-8461
Email: danap@ccs-soaz.org

St. Elizabeth’s (St. E’s) Health Center will use this funding for the direct treatment of women and men with breast cancer.  The population served by St. E’s is both uninsured and underserved and is often the only hope for treatment a person might have.  The funds will be used for surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and related treatment costs for women who cannot access Well Woman HealthCheck Program funds and men who lack insurance.  St. E’s has an extensive network of discount and volunteer providers who optimize the funds available for the treatment of breast cancer for the patients served.

Tucson Medical Center (TMC)     
TMC Breast Health and Education Program
Project Director: Denise Navarrete, RT
5301 E Grant Rd
Tucson, AZ 85712-2805
Phone: 520-324-5003
Fax: 520-324-1309
Email: Denise.navarrete@tmcaz.com   

Funding will be used to provide digital screening mammography services to 275 low income, uninsured women 40 years of age and older. Through the support of several grant sources and a network of collaborating partners, TMC is committed to providing a full continuum of breast health services including education, screening, diagnosis, and treatment.  A Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner will provide clinical breast exams, individualized patient education and function as a patient navigator.  She will review all reports insuring patients receive follow-up as needed in a timely manner.  She will also serve as a resource to the community by answering calls made to the TMC Breast Health Information line. In addition, the program will reach 5,000 women through ongoing outreach and educational programs. Through these efforts, TMC will provide services to women of southern Arizona who would otherwise not seek screening mammography. 

University of Arizona Foundation
on behalf of Arizona Cancer Center    
Increasing Promotora’s access to breast cancer electronic resources
Project Director: Ana Maria Lopez, MD,MPH, FACP
1501 N Campbell Ave
Tucson, AZ 85724
Phone: 520-626-2271
Fax: 520-626-6252
Email: Alopez@AZCC.Arizona.edu

The purpose of this program is to increase access to web-based breast cancer information by developing a computer literacy curriculum based on the “Train the Trainer” model for promotoras/community health workers (CHWs) that can be utilized  to educate families and patients about breast health. The key activities of the proposed work include the collaboration between Arizona Cancer Center, Arizona Health Science Center Library, Arizona Community Health Workers Organization and Arizona Telemedicine Program to develop and deliver a computer literacy curriculum to CHWs in southern Arizona, either in person or via distance education.  The program will help bridge the digital divide of the CHWs participating in the program and their trainees or lay persons interested in breast health. In addition, increasing access to reliable health information has been documented to result in improved decision-making and improved healthcare outcomes. 

Foundation of Yuma Regional Medical Center  
Breast Cancer Screening Program
Project  Director: Debbie Stahl, BA, MA
2400 S Ave A
Yuma, AZ 85364-7170
Phone: 928- 336-7045
Fax: 928-336-7346
Email: dstahl@yumaregional.org

The Breast Cancer Screening program is a collaborative effort among Yuma Regional Medical Center, Sunset Community Health Center, Yuma Public Health Services District, Planned Parenthood, Women’s Health Specialist, and Indian Health Services. This program provides low-cost mammogram screenings, diagnostics, and breast health education to women under the age of 50 who are uninsured or underinsured and fall below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.