Franciscan Health System Receives Community Partner Award

FHS Breast Cancer Navigation Program Recognized for Saving Lives

SEATTLE  – The Puget Sound Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® awarded the Franciscan Health System Breast Cancer Navigation Program the 2011 Community Service Partner Award.

Since 2005, the Breast Cancer Navigator Program of Franciscan Health System/Korean Women’s Association has reached nearly 19,000 medically underserved, low-income, minority women, including one-on-one support to nearly 7,000 women and nearly 1,200 women receiving mammograms.  Services are delivered by female navigators who share women’s culture, race and language and who are connected and trusted in their local communities.  As a result of the program, Franciscan Health System is treating more minority women for breast cancer, and these cancers are being treated at a much earlier stage of the disease. 

Last year, nearly 800 Washington women died from breast cancer. Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer. It leads to early treatment and, when treated early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 98% in the United States. When detected later and the breast cancer has spread, the five-year survival rate falls to 23%.

“We are grateful to the FHS Breast Cancer Navigation Program for recognizing a community need, creating innovative solutions to meet that need and tenaciously bringing solutions to underserved women,” says Cheryl Shaw, Executive Director of Komen Puget Sound. “Because of the excellent work provided by the Franciscan Health System Breast Cancer Navigation team, more minority women are being diagnosed at earlier stages of the disease and more are receiving treatment for breast cancer in Pierce County. Their support has literally saved lives”.