When I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2018, my world collapsed. I was at the doctor’s office surrounded by my children, my husband, and an interpreter, because I don't speak English. I was scared, and when the interpreter explained what I might face: hair loss, fatigue, a body I would no longer recognize, I broke down in tears. It felt like the ground had been pulled from under me.

 

But in that moment of despair, something unexpected happened. The interpreter, who was also a Patient Navigator with Latinas Contra Cancer, gently told me about LCC and invited me to learn more. I had never heard of the organization before, but that invitation changed my life.

 

Soon after, I joined LCC’s support group. It was there that I realized I was not alone. I found a sisterhood of women who were also navigating cancer, many of them Latina, many also mothers, daughters, wives. We shared our fears, our tips, our truths. While I went through seven months of chemotherapy, the support group became my refuge. They gave me tools, knowledge, and a sense of belonging that carried me through the hardest moments of my life.

During the pandemic, when everything shut down and the world felt more uncertain than ever, Latinas Contra Cancer was still there. They provided financial relief for my family when we needed it most. They kept us informed, connected, and cared for. That continued support inspired me to do more, not just for myself, but for my community.

I became a graduate of LCC’s first cohort of Defensoras: Healthcare Advocate Co-Learning Space, where I began building my voice as an advocate. That experience opened more doors. I became a health promotora, leading workshops on cancer prevention, telehealth access, and digital literacy for other individuals like me.

And when our community’s trauma center was at risk of being shut down, I stood up. I raised my voice and joined the fight to save Regional Medical Center. I was no longer just a patient, I was a leader, a fighter, a resource for others.

Today, I continue to walk alongside Latinas Contra Cancer. I give back because they gave me the tools to rise. Through every workshop, every campaign, every shared story, I am building power, not just for myself, but for all of us who believe that health is a right, not a privilege.

Gracias, Latinas Contra Cancer, for reminding me that even in the darkest moments, we carry light, and we carry each other.

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— Teresita Garcia, Cancer Thriver
Health Promotora, Defensora