Focus EMU, September 6, 2005
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EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY EMU HOME Sept. 6, 2005 Volume 53, No. 04 FOCU EMU professor promotes breast cancer screening among Asian American women in Featured southeastern Michigan Articles A woman in tears tells researcher Tsu-Yin Wu that she is so thankful to have learned how to do a breast self-exam. She found a lump in her breast that was in the early stages of cancer. She received treatment and is now a survivor. That was only two months after she learned the self-exam technique. :JEMU professor promotes breast cancer screening among Asian American This type of story tells Wu, an Eastern Michigan University associate professor of nursing, women in southeastern that her message of preventative health care associated with breast exams is "getting Michigan through." iJEMU offers admission to "displaced" students "My true reward is to have women learn to be self-motivated (about breast cancer ::iEMU "House Calls" detection). Breast cancer affects all women and early detection is the key to survival," Program welcomes said Wu. resident students :JM.U.S.I.C. plays cost Wu recently received a saving tune for EMU $249,096 grant from the "JEMYou Feature: Susan G. Komen Breast Tessmer pursues the Cancer Foundation to promote final frontier breast cancer screening iJDave Chappelle, My among immigrant Asian Chemical Romance American women. Wu coming to Convocation previously conducted a similar Center study for Chinese American ::Photo: Students move women. in to residence halls ::JPhoto: President Fallon participates in Cloesup Her goal is to reduce breast Theatre Troupe cancer by educating performance during new immigrant women, 40 years student orientation or older from southeastern ::iBy the numbers and southern Asia, about :JBriefs health education and breast :J.Jobsline cancer screening practices. :JWhy I teach at Eastern Michigan University This is where the main text THE WU FACTOR: Tsu-Yin Wu, an EMU associate goes for the cover story, sort professor of nursing, is working to promote breast of like a teaser leading into cancer screening among immigrant Asian American the main article. I recommend women. She recently received a $249,096 grant using the first couple of from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer paragraphs from the main Foundation to promote that goal. story, even adding a photo or two. More on this story... FICU-· I� EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY EMU HOME Cover Story A woman in tears tells researcher Tsu-Yin Wu that she is so thankful to have learned how to do a b-east self-exam. She found a lump in her breast that was in the early stages of cancer. She received treatment and is now a survivor. That was only two months after she learned the self-exam Sept. 6, 2005 issue technique. EMU professor promotes breast cancer screening This type of story tells Wu, an Eastern Michigan University associate among Asian American professor of nursing, that her message of preventative health care women in southeastern associated with breast exams is "getting through." Michigan "My true reward is to have women learn to be self-motivated (about breast cancer detection). Breast cancer affects all women and early detection is By Carol Anderson the key to survival," said V-.u. Wu recently received a $249,096 grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to promote breast cancer screening among immigrant Asian American women. Wu previously conducted a similar study for Chinese ' American women. THE WU FACTOR: Tsu-Yin Wu, an EMU associate professor of nursing, is working to promote breast Her goal is to cancer screening among immigrant Asian American reduce breast women. She recently received a $249,096 grant cancer by from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer educating Foundation to promote that goal. immigrant women, 40 years or older from southeastern and southern Asia, about health education and breast cancer screening practices. Immigrant women from the Philippines and Vietnam (southeast Asia) and India, Bangladesh and Pakistan (southern Asia) have unique needs in breast cancer screening, said Wu. Breast cancer is the numter one diagnosed cancer in Caucasian, African American and Asian American women, but unique among Asian Americans is the detection timetable The disease is discovered in these women at a much later stage, which c.:in be life threatening, said Wu. In addition, their incidence rate for developing breast cancer is six times greater than that of women who remain in their native countries. Understanding cultural barriers and the breast cancer screening practices of Asian American women and developing appropriate programs for them is particularly important since that population has been growing in southeastern Michigan, said Wu. Asian American women need help in overcoming language and cultural barriers. Without a good command of the English language, women aren't aware of the recommended cancer detection procedures so mammograms are not done, said Wu. "Breast cancer screening is an effective early detection measure, but Asian American women are hesitant to see a doctor for preventative care," she said. Thanks to the Komen grant, Wu is setting up an interdisciplinary team of nurses, doctors and social workers who will work together to introduce a culturally-sensitive screening program to Asian American women. Team members will ask women about their experiences with breast cancer screening and services provided by the health system in their country of origin. They also will listen for cultural taboos such as fear of touching oneself during a breast exam or reluctance to see a male doctor. "I really listen and try to bridge the gap. I ask them about their top priority in life (which is usually family) and tell them to look at the bigger picture," said Wu. "Their families and children are depending on them." Wu also is setting up a research team to work in Washtenaw and Oakland counties, and hopes to recruit about 160 participants from area churches, temples, restaurants and grocery stores. In the second year, the team will engage in counseling and education of breast cancer screening and, in the final year, there will be follow-up with each participant. By the end of the three-year study, Wu hopes to decrease health disparities in cancer screening for Asian American women by increasing the number of women who do monthly self-examinations, get an annual checkup by a doctor and have an annual mammogram. Wu, a resident of Ann Arbor, has a doctorate in health promotion and risk reduction; a master's degree in community health in nursing from the University of Michigan; and a bachelor's degree in nursing from the National Yang Ming University in Taiwan. As a behavioral scientist, Wu became interested in why people exhibit positive behavior. She started her research in breast cancer with a study of Chinese American women and cancer screening through the National Cancer Institute in 2000. This study eventuall'I led to her current interest in Asian American women. "Every group has its own unique needs and any advances in breast cancer screening technology are useless if women don't overcome the cultural and language barriers to early health screening," said Wu. "I'm trying my best to help them succeed." EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY EMU HOME Feature Eastern Michigan University officials announced this morning that they are prepared to offer immediate guest admission to students whose studies have been interrupted as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Sept. 6, 2005 issue EMU offers "We have received calls from desperate parents whose children were admission to scheduled to start or return to universities affected by the hurricane," said "displaced" Courtney McAnuff, vice president for enrollment services. "We want to be students responsive to these parents and students by providing an opportunity for them to start or continue their studies without losing one or two semesters." By Ward Mullens McAnuff said guest student admissions are nothing new for EMU, so it can respond to these students immediately. "Each year, we have a couple hundred guest students who take classes at EMU and then transfer credits back to their home institutions. Our academic advisers are prepared to work with students to help them get the classes they need," McAnuff said. The University also is prepared to provide on-campus McAnuff housing for students and to help with financial aid. "Hurricane Katrina left devastation in her wake. If we can help just one student avoid being another victim, we want to," McAnuff said. Students should call 800.GO-TO-EMU for specific information regarding admission to the University for students affected by the hurricane. "They will get priority service," McAnuff said. "The fall semester starts Wednesday, Sept. 7, so students still have time to get admitted, get housing and have a day or so to get settled before classes begin." For more information, go to www.emich.edu/ombuds/. EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSlTY EMU HOME Feature A knock on the door may not be the local pizza delivery person, but Eastern Michigan University President John Fallon delivering a welcome message to randomly-chosen, first-year students. Sept. 6, 2005 issue EMU administrators Fallon, faculty and administrators will be visiting students in their residence make "house calls" halls as part of EMU's Fourth Annual House Calls Program Sept. 14 from 7- to new freshmen 9 p.m. residents "We're reaching out to first-year students to ease their transition (to campus life). Some students are homesick and feel better when they talk By Carol Anderson with an R.A. (resident assistant)," said Rebecca Figura, EMU d rector of housing and dining services. "Most students have positive responses about the program and express appreciation when we follow up with a phone call." Pairs of volunteers will visit some of the 1,700 first-year students who live in Best, Wise, Walton, Putnam, Phelps and Sellers residence halls.