In our Hispanic and African-American communities, women are dying in disproportionately high numbers from breast and invasive cervical cancers. But this doesn't have to be.

"Mortality can be reduced with early detection and treatment of many cancers," said Diana Benavides, the multicultural educator at Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (PPNC). That's why a collaborative of 10 Long Island-based agencies spearheaded by PPNC have come together - under the names Hermanas unidas en la salud, in Spanish / Sisters United In Health, in English - with the valiant objective of saving lives.

To reach its goal, the group aims to raise the minority populations' awareness of the importance of early detection of both breast and cervical cancer, and to make sure testing and treatment follow. The coalition will offer free programs by trained educators within the community and help in securing affordable diagnostic and treatment services.

"While getting women to take care of themselves sounds easy, this is not always the case," said Hillary Rutter, director of the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer hotline and support program.

"Many women neglect their health care because they have so many other pressing needs or don't know where to turn for affordable care. The real need is getting people to see that this is an important issue, that they must act on it, and that there are health services to answer their needs," Rutter said.

"And in the Latina and African-heritage communities, modesty and fear also keep women from doing self-breast exams and going for clinical breast exams and mammograms," said Marion Terry.

And too many women ignore the issue because they would rather not know they have cancer than face the disease realistically.

The results of this neglect are startling:

* While African-American women contract breast cancer less often than Caucasian women, they are dying from breast cancer at rates higher than other ethnic groups.

* Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Latinas and the second leading cause among African-American women, after lung cancer.

* Of the 900 women in New York state expected to be diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer this year, the incidence will be much higher for Latinas than white females.

* The cervical cancer mortality rate for African-American women is more than twice that of white women, with older African Americans at particular risk.

"But when the women know that their risks can be reduced and that treatment is available, they will be less afraid," Rutter said. "We're hoping to convince women if they go for early detection and prompt treatment, that breast cancer is not a death sentence."

"A very important aspect of this initiative, is that we are not going to educate women and then let them fend for themselves," Benavides said. "We will make sure they can get all the tests and exams necessary at a price they can afford."

Many Long Island women, she said, are unaware of available services. These include affordable complete gynecological care and care for sexually transmitted infections at the three PPNC health centers in Hempstead, Glen Cove and Massapequa and programs offered by the Nassau Health Care Corporation and local hospitals.

"Many women also are unaware that Planned Parenthood accepts insurance and Medicaid," said Jan Figueira, PPNC's director of education. PPNC now offers mammograms to all women 40 and over who have not had one in the past year for no out-of-pocket costs.

"When women know they can get good care that they can afford, they are more likely to seek out care," Figueira said. At PPNC, she stressed, all services are bilingual and confidential.

The collaborative includes: The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer hotline and Support Program; African-American Health Education and Development (AHEAD); The American Cancer Society; Cancer Care; Cancer Information Service; The Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education; Nassau Health Care Corporation Breast and Cervical Screening Program; North Shore University Hospital at Glen Cove; Family Practice Center; Planned Parenthood of Nassau County; and Sisters Network.

The group is offering a variety of educational programs in both Spanish and English at community-based organizations, including churches. And at the request of superintendents, principals or school nurses, educators will make presentation to young school girls. These programs will emphasize ways to reduce one's risk of cancer.

The coalition hopes to recruit volunteers from the audience of adult programs to take training to become educators themselves, so the program can be expanded.

"We are inviting schools, churches and other community-based groups to contact us. One phone call can save lives. It's that important," Rutter said.

For more information, call Diana Benavides now at 750-2655.