When Jessica Rodriguez, 39, found out she had breast cancer she was scared. She didn't know how she was going to pay for treatment and she was afraid of what stage the cancer was in.
Article can be found here. According to the American Cancer Society, "more often in Hispanics than whites, breast cancer is detected at an advanced stage" (Landau, 2013). Not everyone has access to health care and that is one of the reasons why there is a later detection of breast cancer in Hispanic women (Landau, 2013). This was the case for Rodriguez. She did not have health insurance and was classified as low SES. A 2013 study in the International Journal for Equity in Health found that, "among Hispanics in Texas, mortality rates for several cancers tend to be lower among those with more socioeconomic deprivation. A low mortality rate does not correspond with low socioeconomic status in whites and African-Americans. The phenomenon associating Hispanics with better health outcomes despite lower average income and education rates is called the 'Hispanic paradox" (Landau, 2013). When the word cancer is brought up in Latina families it is considered to be synonymous with death (Landau, 2013). When things started to look grim for Rodriguez she found an ogranization called Nueva Vida. Nueva Vida is a support network for Latinas with cancer based in Washington. The organization tries to address needs such as breaking language barriers that Latinas have when consulting with doctors, paying for treatment, and finding support from others who are going through similar situations (Landau, 2013). This organization has been a great source for Rodriguez. The organization covered her surgery, chemo, and radiation. The support has been great and she is now clear of cancer. She is even a Zumba instructor through Nueva Vida and is giving back to the organization that gave her so much. "The women in this organization have a lot of need and they are my survivor sisters," she says.
Being in this multiculturalism class has opened my eyes to a lot. I thought socioeconomic status only had to do with how much money an individual makes per year. I had no idea it included educational attainment and occupational prestige. Our book defines socioeconomic status (SES) as "a comparative measure of class standing, or status, based on a combination of educational attainment, income level, and occupational prestige," (Erford & Hays, 2014, p. 161). According to the article, Rodriguez was considered to be in a low socioeconomic status, but it didn't say anything about her education or occupation. It just talked about her struggle to find a way to pay for treatment. I find it interesting that the research said Hispanics with lower SES tend to have better health outcomes than compared with Whites or African-Americans. I would think the outcomes would be the same for everyone. To me I feel there are a lot of organizations out there for all races to help those in need and have a low SES. Not just Hispanics. A lot of people get angry at the fact there is so much support and help out there for individuals with low SES. I'm a fan of organizations helping out but I am not a fan of those who take those organizations for granted. Rodriguez is one individual that did not take the extra support for granted.
Article:
Landau, E. (2013, October 10). 'sister survivors': Latinas band together in breast cancer battle. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/10/health/hispanic-breast-cancer-disparities/index.html?iref=allsearch
References:
Erford, B., & Hays, D. (2014). Developing multifulcutural counseling competence: A systems approach. (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.
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