Frustrated that more women weren’t doing regular breast self-exams, St. Jude’s Medical Center personnel brainstormed ways to improve the situation.
Their solution? Home “parties” to show women how to do the exams.
“It works for (Tupperware), so why shouldn’t we try it too?” says Mary Gerbracht, a clinical nurse specialist at the Fullerton, Calif., hospital.
About once a month, the Woman to Woman program brings 10 to 15 friends to the home of a host friend. There, a St. Jude’s breast center employee spends about 45 minutes with them, teaching them breast exam techniques, letting them practice on silicone breast models and answering their questions.
“When I leave, I ask them, `Will you practice?’ and they always say `Yes,”‘ says Gerbracht. “Our next step will be tracking them to see if they really did follow through.”
For more information call 800-870-7537, ext. 2.
