Ivis Febus-Sampayo’s Story

Ivis Febus-Sampayo is a native New Yorker who is a wife and mother of two young sons. As the Latina Director for SHARE, a 20-year non-profit organization, which provides self-help to breast and ovarian cancer survivors and their families, Ivis reaches out into New York�s Hispanic communities and speaks about her experience with breast cancer. She educates the community about the importance of early detection for breast cancer. This includes teaching breast self-exam in Spanish and English.

Through SHARE, Ivis develops educational and wellness programs as well as special events for Latinas affected by breast cancer. She administrates the Spanish hotline and support groups run by SHARE volunteers.

Having been diagnosed in October 1993 after having complained to her doctor for over 18 months, she dedicated her life to help educate women about breast health. While still undergoing chemotherapy, Ivis coordinated and participated as a panel member in a New York Race for the Cure Breast Health Workshop in her community.

Ivis then went on to volunteer with New York Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society. She has spoken at various media events to stress the removal of the stigma of a death sentence attached to cancer within the Hispanic community. Ivis has appeared in the ACS Look Good�. Feel Better press kit and poster.

Ivis is a member of the National Hispanic Women�s Health Initiative from the National Coalition of Hispanic Health Service Organizations based in Washington, DC. Through this organization, she co-edited the breast health section of the book �Salud! A Guide for Hispanic Women�s Health� written by Dr. Jane Delgado of COSSMHO.

In June of 1997 Iris participated in the first Breast Cancer Survivor Forum held in the White House with then Vice President Al Core and Mrs. Tipper Gore. She presented the Vice President with the �importance of hope� which is her mission to bring a face of survivorship to the Hispanic communities until one day they can end the stigma of cancer.

In 1998, Iris received a citation award from Governor and Mrs. Pataki at �The First Ladies Luncheon� for her work in helping the Latino community with information on breast health and early detection.

The following year, she received an award and was honored by the National Breast Cancer Coalition for her advocacy work against breast cancer. She met and spoke with Mrs. Hilary Clinton about the needed efforts in finding a cure.