The American Cancer Society & Creative Civilization On A Mission To Save Hispanic/Latino Lives.

As Hispanic/Latino communities in the United States continue to grow rapidly, they face dire health risks. Thousands of Hispanic/Latino people in our country die from cancer each year, many from cancers that could have been prevented or
cured if found early. While these groups represent enormous purchasing power and political voting clout in America, they lag behind the rest of the country when it comes to taking the steps necessary to lower individual cancer risk.

To help Hispanic/Latino individuals to take control of their personal health, two powerful organizations have joined forces: The American Cancer Society, the nation largest voluntary health organization, is collaborating with Creative Civilization, An Aguilar/Girard Agency of San Antonio, Texas, to help save lives in Hispanic/Latino communities across the
country.

The Society’s goal is to promote the benefits of early detection testing and encourage people to turn to the Society for information and answers to cancer questions. The Society offers extensive cancer education materials in Spanish (in print and online at www.cancer.org) as well as Spanish-speaking cancer information specialists at its 24-hour National Cancer Information Center in Austin, Texas.

“Reaching Hispanic/Latino communities, who are among the groups at highest risk, is essential to our fight against cancer” said Harmon J. Eyre, MD, the Society’s national chief medical officer. “Research shows that people in these communities are far less likely to seek routine medical tests, tests that can detect cancer early and ultimately save lives.”

In 2001, Creative Civilization successfully piloted the “Mi Vida” (‘My Life’) outreach campaign for the American Cancer Society’s Texas Division, targeting that state’s Hispanic population. The campaign precedes similar initiatives in New York and Florida, scheduled to launch in the spring and fall of 2002.

“As Latinos, we must change our behavior of going to the doctor only when we are sick and understand that regular examinations can keep us healthier, meaning we can be with our family and loved ones longer,” Creative Civilization President Gisela Girard said. “We are proud to help the American Cancer Society champion early detection as a key to reducing cancer death rates among Hispanics.”