First published in the Dec. 29 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
After an eight-week course complete with professionally facilitated support groups, workout sessions and educational workshops on topics ranging from “Fear of Recurrence” to “Relationship Recovery,” six breast cancer survivors were the first to complete “Volver al Bienestar,” the Spanish adaptation of Cancer Support Community’s long-running Return to Wellness Program.
In collaboration with City of Hope, Cancer Support Community developed this no-cost program into a survivorship series specially tailored to Latinx women who have completed active treatment for breast or gynecological cancer. Throughout the series, the group explored what the transition to survivorship means to them.
“This group is a wonderful bonding experience for women who are at a similar juncture in their cancer experience and is a helpful way for women to come together and to bridge the gap between treatment and recovery,” said Patricia Ostiller, CSC Pasadena’s executive director.
This inaugural “Volver al Bienestar” series was made even more special thanks to staff from the Langham Huntington hotel in Pasadena. On their last evening together, the group’s members celebrated over a tablescape with a meal generously prepared by the hotel’s chefs. Tears filled their eyes as they dined and recounted their journey together.
“I’m happy the Langham was able to be a part of this dinner for these beautiful ladies,” said Angel Romero, the Langham’s catering and sales manager. “It was truly an honor to assist that day.”
One participant shared, “Me regreso mi vida” (I feel I got my life back) while another commented in Spanish, “I had never been celebrated in this way.”
Another participant brought her violin and played an emotional tribute to the women in honor of their sisterhood.
Dr. Alison Wong, CSC’s program and clinical director, commented that providing “this valuable series in the Spanish language is unprecedented for our organization and we’re grateful to clinical psychologist and group facilitator Dr. Cristina Gomez, instructors Ana Maria Delgado, Irma Moyao and Lluvia Higuera, and for our wonderful partner, City of Hope, who helped make this dream a reality.”
Gomez described the participants as a “wonderful group of resilient and strong women. … I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in my capacity to the Latinx community.”
Cancer Support Community Pasadena provides free support groups, educational workshops and healthy lifestyle classes to cancer patients and their families, cancer survivors, and those bereaved in the greater San Gabriel Valley. For more information, visit cscpasadena.org or call (626) 796-1083.
