The Asian American Health Coalition

The Asian American Health Coalition (Hope Clinic) created the Phoenix Project in 2002 has been supported and funded by Komen Houston Affiliate since 2003. The program provides outreach and mammogram screening to the low income and uninsured Asian women. The Phoenix is a bird that according to mythology is reborn from its own ashes. To the Asian culture it symbolizes longevity. Like the Phoenix, breast cancer women become stronger after going through the process of breast cancer diagnosis and treatments.

From 2004 to 2009, the program has screened close to 3,000 women and educated more than 8,000 low-income, medically underserved women as to the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection. The strength of the Phoenix project lies not only in its commitment to eliminating disparities in breast cancer, but in its strong partnership with other community organizations. These collaborations allow us to reach many more women, leverage resources and increase language capabilities. The Phoenix project has also been able to leverage additional funding and today receives support from the Avon Foundation and the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute of Texas.

Since 2004, 25 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and through our partnership with the Rose Diagnostic Center and County Hospital District were able to unsure they receive timely and appropriate treatment through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation as needed, at no cost. In addition they all found support groups to help them emotionally and spiritually.

HOPE clinic is located in what is known as the “Asian Town” which stretches from Highway 59 Bellaire to Highway 6. There are many Asian shops, restaurants, banks etc. One day, Karen Tso, the grant project director, decided to go to buy lunch from a dumpling shop. There was this female worker busy rolling the dough and she looked up and saw Karen. There was a moment of surprise and she gave Karen a big smile, she then wiped her hands and came out of the kitchen to greet me. That’s when Karen recognized that she was one of the patients who was diagnosed with breast cancer through the Phoenix Project. She thanked Karen profusely.

Karen is a breast cancer survivor and said, “I know with support of organizations such as Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, there will be a cure for breast cancer in the horizon!