The UT Cancer Institute’s Breast Health Outreach Program (BHOP), a grant-funded program created in 1996, delivers the message of “breast health” through education to women in rural counties of East Tennessee. This program utilizes a novel approach by reaching the medically under-served East Tennessee population through industries, housing authorities and community centers as well as delivering the program directly into the community at the work site and other gathering places.

Through previous and present funding provided by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s local affiliate, AVON-National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations and the UT Medical Center’s Physicians’ Medical Education and Research Foundation, breast health education and mobile mammography unit screenings have been offered in many rural East Tennessee counties. BHOP serves several counties, including Anderson, Blount, Claiborne, Cocke, Fentress, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson, Loudon, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Rhea, Roane and Scott. Pending increased funding, BHOP plans to extend this outreach program to all 25 counties served by the Cancer Institute. 

The BHOP is featured as a grantee "Spotlight" on the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund website.

Major Objectives

Key Interventions

Staff/Contact Information

^ TOPObjectives

Major objectives of BHOP include the following.

• Increase women’s breast health knowledge.
• Empower women regarding their breast health.
• Increase utilization of early detection modalities.
• Increase breast cancer screening utilization.
• Reduce needless breast cancer-related deaths.

^ TOPKey Interventions

Key interventions for BHOP include the following.

• To provide comprehensive breast health/cancer education to medically under-served women in rural East Tennessee Appalachian counties, which include the following.
  • Educational slides that highlight the importance of early detection.
  • Educational packets containing breast cancer pamphlets and brochures along with incentives and giveaways.
  • Breast Self-Examination Video from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation demonstrating the proper technique for breast self-exam.
  • Mammacare® Breast models containing five lumps for women to feel and practice their breast self-exam technique.
• To provide access to vitally needed screening services (clinical breast examinations and screening mammograms) via UT Medical Center’s Mobile Mammography Unit.
• To provide reduced cost mammograms to women age 40 and older educated through BHOP.

Anyone interested in hosting a free breast health education class should contact the BHOP staff at 865.305.9753 to schedule a date and time.

^ TOPContacts

Mae King, Coordinator

Peggy Iachetta, Program Assistant

Breast Health Outreach Program
UT Cancer Institute
1935 Alcoa Highway, Suite 473
Knoxville, TN 37920

865.305.9753
Fax 865.305.9742