Abstract C071: Cancer screening and breast cancer family history in Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latina women in California
Authors: Tamayo Lizeth I. , Perez Fabian , Perez Angelia , Hernandez Miriam , Martinez Alejandra , Huang Xiaosong , Zavala Valentina , Ziv Elad , Neuhausen Susan L. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis , Duron Ysabel , Fejerman Laura 
Published: January 2023

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and the leading cause of cancer death among women who self-identify as Hispanics/Latinas (H/L). Approximately 5-10% of breast cancer can be attributed to inherited genetic mutations in high penetrance genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Studies have shown that genetic counseling can help women and their families make informed decisions about genetic testing, which in turn can lead to life-saving preventative strategies. H/L women are less likely to undergo genetic testing than Non-Hispanic White women. To address this disparity, we have developed a hereditary breast cancer outreach, education, and navigation program for Spanish-speaking Latinas in California. Materials and Methods: The “Tu Historia Cuenta” program is a promotores-based virtual outreach, education, and navigation program implemented in the cities of San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. Participants responded to a demographic survey, a breast cancer family history survey, and a feedback survey. Survey responses were described for participants and compared by the area where the program took place using chi-square, Fisher exact tests, and t-tests. Multinomial logistic regression models were used for multivariate analyses. Results and Conclusion: We enrolled 1042 women, and 892 completed the family history survey. Among those who completed the survey, 62 (7%) were found to have a strong family history of breast cancer and qualified for referral to genetic counseling. We identified 272 women (42.8% of women aged 40 to 74 years) who were due for mammograms (64 of whom we have connected to a federally-funded screening program), 162 women (16% of women aged 25 to 65 years) due for Papanicolaou test, and 189 women (71.6% of women aged 50+) due for colonoscopy. Insurance rates differed across the three cities with San Francisco having the smallest proportion of uninsured individuals (9.3%) compared to Los Angeles and Sacramento (44.3% and 44%, respectively), which may be explained by differences in health care access. Through this study, we were able to connect with participants that are often excluded form research (35.8% of the study participants were uninsured and 48% were monolingual or had limited English proficiency). These results highlight the need for additional support for programs that spread awareness about cancer risk and facilitate access to resources, specifically within the H/L community.

Citation Format: Lizeth I. Tamayo, Fabian Perez, Angelia Perez, Miriam Hernandez, Alejandra Martinez, Xiaosong Huang, Valentina Zavala, Elad Ziv, Susan L. Neuhausen, Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ysabel Duron, Laura Fejerman. Cancer screening and breast cancer family history in Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latina women in California [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C071.