Howard Employee Raises Awareness about Cancer

When she was 23, Kimberly Higginbotham, was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, Higginbotham was in her last year of a graduate program in physical therapy at Howard. The brave young woman underwent surgery and chemotherapy at Howard University Hospital and, now, more than seven years later, she holds the distinction of being a survivor.

After being invited to participate in outreach and education programs at the Howard University Cancer Center on several occasions, Higginbotham decided to join the Center as a full-time employee in 2001. With her intimate knowledge of cancer and its emotional, physical and psychological effects on both patients and survivors, Higginbotham co-founded the General Cancer Support Group, which meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

The support group, which generally hosts about 15-18 participants ranging in age from their 30s to 70s, provides a space for patients and survivors to discuss a variety of topics, talk about treatment, learn skills such as art, sewing (to adjust clothes during various stages of cancer treatment) and cooking healthy meals and participate in volunteer activities in the community.

“Participants feel like it’s a family atmosphere,” says Higginbotham of the support group that she co-facilitates with Teletia Taylor, Ph.D. “We are a jovial group and we have very supportive members. The members feel like they have been part of the group forever.”

Higginbotham also organizes outreach programs that provide information to local teens through their high schools. “We work with local high school programs to provide outreach,” she says. “I tell them my story, and with the female students we talk about exams, I show a video about how to do a self-exam and provide information about breast cancer. I try to dispel myths and give them a chance to ask questions. Someone in their family may have cancer but they are afraid to ask them about it, so I let them ask me questions. I also give them information to take home to their mothers.” In addition, Higginbotham provides training for male students to educate them about different types of cancer. Through these special programs, the Cancer Center has provided outreach to more than 2,600 females and almost 1,175 male students.

Higginbotham finds the outreach experiences extremely rewarding. She feels good, “just knowing that I’m helping someone and giving them information that they may take to college. If a young woman feels something she may get it checked out; even though she is young for this sort of thing, she will know to go to the doctor,” says Higginbotham.

October is National Breast Awareness Month and Higginbotham hopes to further raise awareness about breast cancer and other forms of the disease as well. The Center will be holding special programs during the month, which have not been solidified yet. To find out more about events throughout the month, call (202) 806-7697.

To participate in the support group or to refer a family member or friend, call Kimberly Higginbotham at (202) 865-4655. The Howard University Cancer Center is located at 2041 Georgia Ave., N.W..

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