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The number of U.S. cancer survivors is rising.
But the post-cancer journey can be tough, especially for Latinos and other minorities, who face worry about recurring disease, hard decisions regarding follow-up care, lack of emotional support and finances.
That’s why the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a national outreach network of community health educators (CHEs) are stationed at NCI-funded agencies across the country to help patients and their families receive survivorship support, according to an NCI article.
The NCI article showcases several examples of CHEs in action.
The report includes Sandra San Miguel de Majors, a CHE with the NCI’s Reden En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Research Network, based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the team behind SaludToday.
San Miguel started Breast Friends Forever (BFF), a unique support group for San Antonio-area breast cancer survivors in their 20s and 30s.
BFF meetings are held once a month to help these young women bond with each other, receive emotional support, and learn more about breast health from expert speakers. The speakers—oncologists, social workers, and CHEs—often speak about cancer treatments, body image, fertility, personal relationships, and other quality-of-life challenges unique to this age group.
“We want young survivors to build positive relationships with other survivors their age in a fun and educational setting, and to improve their quality of life during and after breast cancer,” says San Miguel de Majors.
Learn more about BFF and other CHE activities via the NCI.
Find survivorship resources here.
By The Numbers
25.1
percent
of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage
