BREAST CANCER: DHS Launches PSAs Promoting Awareness
The state Department of Health Services' Cancer Detection Section last week launched a $75,000 campaign aimed at increasing breast cancer awareness. Public service announcements featuring Maya Angelou and Eartha Kitt started airing on television stations throughout the state and will continue until the end of October. The ads -- one which features Angelou and three breast cancer survivors, and the other which features Kitt as the "voice of cancer" -- are designed to target specific demographic groups such as African American, Latina and Asian/Pacific Islander women. The PSAs are part of DHS' breast cancer campaign entitled "Every Woman Counts ... Every Year" (DHS release, 9/16). The campaign informs women of the state's early detection program, which provides free mammograms to low-income women (see CHL 2/2).
See Spot Grow
In the first PSA, Maya Angelou says: "As we get older, our chances of developing breast cancer increase. However, every year more women continue to live meaningful lives because their breast cancer was discovered and treated early. Every women deserves to be healthy and a good way to make sure you don't have breast cancer is to have a mammogram every year. If you're over 40, call about a free mammogram" (1-800-511-2300). The Eartha Kitt spot begins: "Hey ladies! It's time you and me had a talk. You can't see me, I'm breast cancer (spot on screen). In my earliest stage I usually don't get noticed until I'm like this (spot grows bigger); not the best time to find me." The ad goes on to encourage women over 50 to have a mammogram every year and to call the phone number to see if they qualify for a free screening (ad text, 9/18).