Area Resource and Referral Organization for Women (ARROW)

Your health is in your fingertips

Good health means Annual clinical breast exam Routine Mammogram Routine Pap smear Chlamydia testing HPV testing Know your BMI Check your blood sugar Check your blood pressure Make exercise part of your routine Increase fiber intake Add more vegetables
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/f ood-groups/

Advocating access to quality health care through education, resources and referrals.

MISSION Area Resource and Referral Organization for Women (ARROW, Inc.) has as its mission to improve access to quality health care for lesbian, bisexual and transgender women in Southeast Florida through education, training, support services and resources.

PO box 824896 Hollywood, FL 33081 Phone/fax: 954-981-1090 arrowlbt.org arrowlbthealth@gmail.com

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Organ iz at ion s th at provide s upport for ARRO Ws miss i on

Risk factors for LBT women are:

The four most-cited cancer risk factors (anything that affects your chance of getting a disease, such as cancer) in the research on lesbians and breast cancer risk are: Alcohol use - Multiple studies have linked alcohol consumption to breast cancer risk especially binge drinking and now even low levels of alcohol consumption (3-6 drinks/week) may put some women at risk for invasive breast cancer. Some research reports higher rates of heavy drinking among lesbians than heterosexual women. Obesity - some studies report that lesbians are more likely to be overweight or have a BMI over 25. Pregnancy - lesbians are less likely to have biological children before age 30, which would offer some protection against cancer. Cigarette smoking although there is not a direct link to breast cancer, smoking does increase the risk of lung, cervical, and bladder cancer in women. Smoking has also been implicated in worsening acute and chronic illnesses. Routine screening for cancer: according to the National LGBT Cancer Network lesbians reported lower rates of mammography, colonoscopy and pap smears than their heterosexual counterparts, due to a combination of limited financial access and perceived unwelcome.

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY IN 2009

RECOMMENDS ALL WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THEIR FIRST

PAP

TEST AT AGE

21.

A Pap test is the most effective cancer screening test in use today and is the only way to detect cervical cancer in its early stages. Women aged 21 to 30 years: Pap test every 2 yrs. Women 30 years and older who have had 3 consecutive normal Pap tests may be screened once every 3 yrs. Women aged 65 to 70 yrs who have had at least three normal Pap tests and no abnormal Pap tests in the last 10 years may decide, after taking with their healthcare provider, to stop having Pap tests. Women who have had a hysterectomy do not need to have Pap tests unless the hysterectomy was done for a cancerous condition. Women who have had the HPV vaccine DO need routine Pap tests. More information may be found on the National Cancer Institute Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/facts heet/detection/Pap-test

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Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a useful measure of overweight and obesity. It is calculated from your height and weight. BMI is an estimate of body fat and a good gauge of your risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat. The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems, gallstones and certain cancers. When interpreting this score keep in mind that BMI has some limitations. There are circumstances where BMI may be misleading because it only assesses total body weight and doesnt account for body composition. Some population groups such as muscular athletes, BMI may be an inaccurate assessment tool. The BMI score may also overestimate body fat in athletes or underestimate fat in older persons or person who have lost muscular mass.

Breast Screening Guidelines

Major health organizations recommend that mammograms should be done regularly. Studies have found that having mammograms regularly reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer by 15% and another study found a lowered risk of 29%. Women should also schedule a Clinical Breast
Exam (CBE), an examination of your breasts, with a health care provider on an annual basis. More information and our breast health screening recommendations can be found at: https://arrowlbt.org/Screening_Recommendations.html An excellent video of breast self exam (BSE) can be found at:

http://www.arctichealth.org/anthcvideos