Making Strides Against Breast Cancer in the Asian American Community

By and

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The American Cancer Society (ACS) is involved in the fight against breast cancer in many areas. Through its extramural research grants program, as of March 1, 2009 the Society was funding 218 research projects being conducted by an elite group of scientists. These projects were chosen through a rigorous peer review and selection process and all of them relate to breast cancer. This funding amounts to $118.1 million research dollars.

Due to language and cultural barriers, many Asian immigrants do not have access to cancer prevention information, screenings, cancer care services and patient support programs. This disparity in health care results in a high cancer related mortality. In response to this need, American Cancer Society, Eastern Division launched the Asian Initiatives office in 2006.

The goals of the American Cancer Society – Asian Initiatives are: (1) to promote public education on cancer prevention including community forums, radio and television educational programs, and translation of cancer related information into various Asian languages; (2) to arrange free screening services for breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer and hepatitis B; (3) to provide free smoking cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapy to help smokers quit; (4) to provide free services for cancer patients such as patient navigation, individual counseling, support groups, transportation for chemo/radiation therapy, pre or post surgery support, etc., and (5) to organize volunteer-driven community events, such as ‘Relay For Life’, and ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ to raise awareness about cancer prevention, early detection and survivorship while raising funds to support our programs and services.

In order to continue providing our free programs and services to the diverse Asian population of New York City, we are seeking volunteers who are fluent in Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Japanese, or Vietnamese.

For this presentation, Dr. Lisa Eng and Ms. Kate Shen will discuss the following regarding breast cancer in the Asian American community:

  • Breast Basics – Anatomy, function
  • Disease entities – benign and malignant
  • Screening
  • Treatment
  • Prognosis
  • US Asian American Breast Cancer Research Updates
  • Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

Author Bio

Presented By:

Lisa Eng, D.O. is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology, completed her training at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Eng has been in private practice since 1995 and is one of the co-founders of New Life Ob/Gyn, LLP and Doctors First Association. She is the President of ACAP (Association of Chinese American Physicians), Chair of Section 2 (Brooklyn & Staten Island), District II of the American College of Obstetricians/Gynecologists (ACOG), Board of Director of NYS Osteopathic Medical Society, Past President of the Brooklyn Gyn Society, chair of Committee on Public Health and Secretary for Kings County Medical Society, member of the Committee to Eliminate Healthcare Disparities for the Medical Society of the State of New York, serves on the Board of Directors for Homecrest Community Services, a Chinese senior center in Brooklyn. Recipient of the Community Service Award for ACOG District II in 2007, and named one of Brooklyn’s Extraordinary Women by Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes in 2008, Community Service Award from Manhattan Borough President Stringer in 2009, Ciba-Geigy Community Service Award while in Medical School for organizing fundraiser for Special Olympics. She has trained residents for 12 years at Lutheran Medical Center’s Dept of Ob/Gyn.


Presented By:

Kate Shen is the Manager of Special Events at American Cancer Society Asian Initiatives (ACSAI). During her two years work at ACSAI, she worked at both NJ and NY offices, serving the Asian population in both States. With an MPH degree obtained from UCLA, She is a Certified Health Education Specialist with a focus on designing and providing culturally competent education programs to ethnic community. She is particularly interested in language services and women's health. Recently she transferred to Special Events sector and specializes in special events planning, growing and cultivating Young Alumni and Young Professional Donors, and Asian American Philanthropy, as well as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Relay for Life team recruitment and development.