Breast Cancer Screening 19
applications” and testimonials, and (3) general marketing incorporating billboards or
“[personalized] mail--not just something that comes in a flyer.”
Proactive Collectivists
Action. While proactive individualists are resourceful and implement the three-pronged
approach for their personal benefit, proactive collectivists move beyond self-benefit and
incorporate their immediate and larger community to the fight against breast cancer. Like the
proactive individualists, proactive collectivists research for information for themselves. However
they take an additional step and disseminate the knowledge to the community. These individuals
overcome fear and obstacles permitting them to envision a world with multiple resources and
access for health care. They strive to improve and promote the importance of breast health and
preventative care through encouragement. One woman explained, “encouragement is the key
word, [we] need to encourage everyone, do not let them settle [or give into the blocks they may
face].” Proactive collectivists identify, envision, and motivate their immediate community and
larger society to become proactive.
Proactive collectivists identify the problems with breast cancer and information
distribution, but believe that research and exposure of the disease has progressed. Proactive
collectivists think that breast cancer is becoming a more talked about issue: “People are more
open about [breast] cancer.” They acknowledge the importance of “taking [the message] out to
the community” and are concerned about “touching the people that really need to be touched.”
Proactive collectivists comment on various issues using the word “we.” They acknowledge the
importance of involving the larger Hispanic community in the cause. For example, “We need to
be alert and we need to check when we are in the bath, in front of the mirror or every day when
we are looking at our self.” These women also recognize the importance of implementing
Convention