Kwe Brave
Kwe Brave
Kwe Brave resource page for Native American breast cancer survivors and caregivers. Kwe is the Ojibwe word for women and aims to honor our sisters that face cancer diagnosis.
Recent Resources
Breast and Cervical Cancer Navigation Program:
Questions to Ask Your Doctor After You Finish Treatment– Cancer.gov
Managing and Preventing Side Effects (from cancer treatment)- Cancer.gov
3 Blogs to Read about Mastectomy and Reconstruction:
Advocating for Your Health and Breast Cancer Survivorship
NEW: Patient Guide to Cancer Support Services 2021– Guide to financial support resources for cancer treatment.
You’re Too Young To Have Cancer -Blog from Conquer patient voice magazine
How to advocate for yourself as a cancer patient
Talking about breast health with your doctor– quick tips
Talking with your breast surgeon – mastectomy expectations and help
Breast Cancer Screening
What to expect at a mammography appointment– American Indian Cancer Foundation webinar recording
- Mammogram myths and facts
illustration by @quietcreature and @iischristy
Nutrition, Food Access, and Cancer Survivorship with Kwe Brave, Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan, and the American Indian Cancer Foundation
Social and Emotional Support
How to tell someone you have cancer
Talking to your kids about cancer– webpage with helpful advice for telling your kids about a cancer diagnosis and what to expect from the conversation
Peer Support- You are not alone in being a breast cancer survivor. The Young Survival Coalition has great blogs on mental health and breast cancer
Managing Breast Cancer as a Single Mom- Blog Post
Tips for Coping with COVID-19 for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers– GW Cancer Center
Mental Health and Cancer Support
Free Resources for mental health during COVID-19 Pandemic – list of free tools that support mental health (apps, podcasts, meditations, etc.)
Breast Cancer and Mental Health Toolkit– tips from breast cancer nurses, support groups, and help with anxiety
Suicide prevention resources
Chemo brain facts and support: American Indian Cancer Foundation
Family Resources
How Children Understand Cancer
Common cancer terminology for caregivers and survivors- a starting place to learn about cancer and treatment
Caring for the caregiver– Native Women’s Wellness
Caregiver Tips: Fact sheet from CancerCare.org
HIPAA: Sharing your health information with friends and family
Survivorship
Life after Treatment for Native Americans
Metastatic Breast Cancer Navigator -Young Survival Coalition
Sex and Intimacy after a Cancer Diagnosis
- Relationships and Intimacy: Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Pain Management – integrative medicine: https://www.michigancancer.org/PDFs/Resources/ManagingPainAfterCancerDiagnosis.pdf
Breast Cancer in Native American women
Native American women tend to experience more severe forms of breast cancer and are often diagnosed in later stages than other racial/ethnic groups. Women who feel supported and comfortable seeking care have better outcomes for breast cancer. The Kwe Brave campaign aims to provide breast cancer risk education and resources for young Native American women.
http://keepitsacred.itcmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Breast-cancer-in-AI-AN-NNN-webinar.pdf
Young Breast Cancer is defined by anyone who has been told they have breast cancer under the age of 45.
See our info page for Native YBCS linked above.
