Tennessee’s First Witness Project® Established in Nashville
Effort Seeks to Increase Breast and Cervical Cancer Testing Awareness
Among African American Women

In spite of living in the information age, cancer is still a fearful, stigmatized disease in minority communities, and people simply don’t talk about it. Thanks to The Witness Project®, more and more African American women are talking about cancer.

The Witness Project® is a culturally sensitive breast and cervical cancer outreach effort presented by cancer survivors and lay health advisors to increase awareness, knowledge, access to screening, and early detection among the African American population in an effort to reduce mortality and morbidity from cancer.

In 2006, according to the Tennessee Department of Health, the black rate of breast cancer in Davidson County among females was 1.6 times higher than the rate among white females. During that same period, the cervical cancer rate in Davidson County among black females was 3.5 times higher than the white female rate. “This explains why the project is so important because African American women die more often from these cancers than white women” said Mattie Bates, a breast cancer survivor, and Project Coordinator for the Witness Project. “Those involved in the project are especially concerned about women who do not have insurance or whose insurance does not cover these services. I am committed to telling my story in hopes of encouraging African American women to do breast self-exams, get a mammogram, and see their healthcare provider for a clinical breast exam and Pap test. Taking these steps could save a life.”

Witness Project programs are presented in churches and community organizations by Witness Role Models (WRMs) and Lay Health Advisors (LHAs). Witness Role Models are African American women who are breast or cervical cancer survivors. Their presence as survivors is seen as a blessing and proof that cancer is not a death sentence. Lay Health Advisors are not cancer survivors themselves, but are women who want to work with the project to organize and publicize programs, network with community people, give facts about breast and cervical cancer and available resources, teach breast self examinations (BSEs) and encourage preventive services (mammograms, clinical breast exams (CBEs), pelvic exams, Pap tests, and BSE).

A reception was held September 11, 2007 to honor Mattie Bates, Project Coordinator, and recently trained Witness Project® volunteers at Stillwaters Café located at 1207 Jefferson Street. Community partners, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Office of Minority Affairs, the National Cancer Institute’s, Cancer Information Service, the Cervical Cancer Coalition of TN, and the Alpha Delta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority worked to launch this program in September 2006.

This project is supported by a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Greater Nashville Affiliate and the Tennessee Department of Health, Breast and Cervical Screening Program. Women 40 to 64 enrolled in the Bridges to Care Program may be eligible for a mammogram supported by the grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Greater Nashville Affiliate. To date, The Witness Project® has trained 25 volunteers and reached over 300 women. Several women have been scheduled for screening test, no cancer has been reported.

The Witness Project® currently has programs in 22 states. For information about locations that offer free or low cost screenings call 340-0391. If you are interested in learning more about The Witness Project® or would like a program at your church or community organization, please contact Mattie Bates with the Metro Public Health Department at 340-5680. You may also contact Ms. Bates to learn about volunteering as a Witness Role Model or Lay Health Advisor.

The following Witness Project® presentations have been scheduled at the following locations:

Tennessee Conference Women’s Missionary Society at the County Inn and Suites located at 1001 Bell Road on Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 10:00 a.m.

Offenders Release Re-entry Center located at 5131 Harding Place on Monday, March 3, 2008 @ 6:00 p.m.

Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church located at 1701 East Stewarts Lane on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 12:30 p.m.

Greater Grace Temple Community Church, located at 901 Dalebrook Lane on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Other presentations are in the process of being scheduled. For information about upcoming presentation please call Mattie Bates at 340-5680.