Komen is proud to support the Su Salud program out of Wheaton Franciscan’s St. Francis Hospital.
Contact Fabiola DeChico at 414.647.7449 for more information
Through a Komen Community grant of $52,157, the Su Salud/Your Health program delivers culturally competent, bilingual educational presentations, comprehensive patient services, and breast cancer screenings to underserved women. The program seeks to create understanding, access, and a compassionate support system for women who have traditionally been reluctant to engage in or otherwise excluded from life-saving
breast cancer screenings.
Meet Virginia Vallejo, a local woman who benefitted from this Komen Community Grant program.
Su Salud Program Delivers Caring Service to the Hispanic Community
Wheaton Franciscan – St. Francis is reaching out to the Hispanic community by educating women on the importance of breast health and breast cancer prevention.
Funded in part by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Su Salud program provides breast health resources for Latina women in need. The program pairs an RN breast care coordinator with a community health worker to give groups of women brief presentations on breast health. The program also provides mammograms to women who may not be able to afford them.
Su Salud has made a tremendous impact on the life of Virginia Vallejo. After receiving a check-up provided by the program, it was discovered that there was a blockage in Virginia’s right breast. “I understood my health issue because the staff explained it to me very thoroughly,” she said.
Su Salud also connected her to all the resources that she needed so she would not have to worry about navigating her way through health care, which can be confusing when there is a language barrier. Fabiola De Chico helped Virginia by enrolling her in the Wisconsin Women’s Health Fund to cover the remaining cost of a galactogram that her government funded insurance did not.
“I am very grateful for the quality attention provided by the program,” Virginia expressed.
Virginia was so pleased with the services that she received that she is spreading word throughout the community about Su Salud and the importance of receiving a mammogram every year. “A lot of Latina women are afraid to seek help because of their citizenship status,” she explained. “They are unaware that financial assistance exists.” She has also talked about the importance of breast health to women in her family and at church and work. “I tell them that even if they don’t have symptoms, they should get a mammogram every year,” she added.
Virginia says that her two daughters are her main motivation to stay healthy. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember to take care of myself,” she said. “My daughters remind me to take care of my health.” Virginia’s daughters are her best friends and the ones she trusts the most. “They are the reason I live.”
Virginia received a galactogram at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis and is scheduled to see a surgeon to evaluate whether she’ll need surgery to remove the blockage.
“I am very grateful that there are programs like this available,” Virginia said. “It helps to educate women so that they can make decisions that will prevent cancer and other serious breast issues.”
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