A new report suggests that Latin@s are only going to the doctor when they suspect or are suffering from health problems, and many don’t even go then. There are many of the usual suspects listed as reasons for not going (lack of time, money, access to doctors), but one in particular stood out to me. Latinas aren’t going to the doctor because they are scared of the “cancer” diagnosis:

Some women wait to seek cancer treatment because they’re hoping the problem will go away or because they think nothing can be done. “Our population feels that cancer equals death,” said Ramirez, who works on cancer education and outreach projects.

I don’t think that this fear is something that is particular to the Latin@ community-but at the same time, I know that I personally waited to see a doctor for three months after I discovered a lump under my armpit. It turned out to be connected to chronic muscle problems I’d been having in that arm, but still. The only reason I got it checked out was because I felt I better begin preparations for my death, rather than simply waiting to keel over.

I wonder what we can do as a community to help each other get out to the clinic or the doctor before we come to crisis moments in our health?

via/AMNews