Latinas/Hispanics with Breast Cancer

Anonymous · June 2012

Hello/Saludos,

I am a Latina with breast cancer, born and raised in the US and fluent in Spanish. I have found this community to be very helpful and full of resources as I navigate this unfortunate new terrain. That said I am struck by my lack of luck in using the search feature to uncover more than 2 Latinas. I have many identities: NY'er, educator, lawyer, feminist, formerly "great head of hair" ; > - and Latina, and I'd like to connect to others with these backgrounds.

If you are out there, I can't find you, so please come find me. Moderators can we add this as a new category?

Moderators · June 2012

VVH, thank you for your suggestion! Although parts of the main Breastcancer.org site are available in Spanish, we don't (yet!) have forums in Spanish. We'll look into how to implement a searchable language option for a future site update.

In the meantime, you might want to start a new thread in the forum International, non-English speaking women with breast cancer as another way to connect with Latinas.

The Mods

Anonymous · June 2012

Hi Mods,

Thansk for your suggestions. I will consider them but I am actually seeking something different. I am not seeking a Spanish language forum. I am, as are most Latinas residing in the US, most comfortable in English. I am seeking a space for all Latinas, where conversations can happen in the many languages that we speak certainly but where the focus is our common culture rather than a language that some of us use.

Thank you,

VVH

Sunrise79 · June 2012

Hi, VVH, I'll, be your #3.

Moderators · June 2012

Hi VVH, so sorry we misunderstood your request!

We routinely deny requests for additional forums, as our boards are overflowing! But we see your point, and will discuss as a team and let you know what we come up with!

Thank you for reaching out,

--The Mods

Anonymous · June 2012

Many thanks. I appreicate it!

Best,

VVH

Moderators · June 2012

Hi VVH,

Your request has been granted! You can feel free to start a thread or two in the NEW Latinas/Hispanics with Breast Cancer forum. Happy posting and thanks again for your imput!

--Your Mods

Anonymous · June 2012

Mods,

Thanks so much. That is great. I will spend sometime thinking about some welcoming language and get my mom to help me make sure that my Spanish language version is grammatically correct ; > and then post them. Wow that is so cool.

VVH

Moderators · June 2012

Glad we could help!

Anonymous · June 2012

Sunrise!

Bienvenida! I am so glad to connect. Perhaps like me you had been searching for a space to drop into occassionally where discussing issues that might arise more commonly for Latinas/Hispanics was possible without a long explanation. I truly appreciate the community I have found on this site but wanted to also feel more free to discuss research that specifically addresses breast cancer risks for Latinas or the importance placed on femininity in some Latin cultures, or quizas/perhaps traditional resources/remedios, or the significance of hair loss for a Latina who comes like I do from a hair obsessed culture. Any way, I'm sure you get it and that's the point. I'd love to spread the word so I will mash together my initial request and this message and suggest to the friends that I have found that they consider joining us.

Mi nombre es Vielka. I am looking forward to getting to know you and everyone who will join us.

Vielka/VVH

dsv · June 2012

Glad to see this thread and looking forward to sharing with other Latinas! Thanks!

Moderators · June 2012

Moved this thread to the NEW Latinas/Hispanics with Breast Cancer forum. Enjoy!

Anonymous · June 2012

DSV, so glad that you joined us. Please do feel free to contribute and to spread the word about this new forum.

VVH

Anonymous · July 2012

Hello/Saludos,

I am a Latina with breast cancer, born and raised in the US and fluent in Spanish. I have found this online community to be very helpful and full of resources as I navigate this unfortunate new terrain. That said I was surprised by my lack of luck in using the search feature to uncover more than 2 other Latinas. I have many identities: NY'er, educator, lawyer, feminist, formerly, "great head of hair" ; > - and, Latina, and I'd like to connect to others with these backgrounds.

In repsonse the Moderators were good enough to create this brand new forum. It is not necessarily a Spanish language forum. I am, as are most Latinas residing in the US, most comfortable in English. I was seeking a space for all Latinas, where conversations can happen in the many languages that we speak certainly but where the focus is our common culture rather than a language that some of us use.

So, if you'd like to join us, Bienvenida! Come find the new Latinas/Hispanics with Breast Cancer forum. I am glad to connect. Perhaps like me you had been searching for a space to drop into occassionally where discussing issues that might arise more commonly for Latinas/Hispanics is possible without too long an explanation. I truly appreciate the community I have found on this site and want to also discuss research that specifically addresses breast cancer risks for Latinas or the importance placed on femininity in some Latin cultures, or quizas/perhaps traditional resources/remedios, or the significance of hair loss for a Latina who comes, like I do, from a hair obsessed culture. Any way, I'm sure you get it and that's the point. I'd love to spread the word that this gret new forum exists. Please spread the word to yoru friends and forums that this new space exists so that they will cosndier joining us.

Mi nombre es Vielka. I am looking forward to getting to know everyone who will join us.

Vielka / VVH

sagina · July 2012

I'll bump the thread - am I number four?

I live in Texas, my Spanish writing skills are not what they used to be....I'll have to stick to English.

VVH are you still in radiation?

Anonymous · July 2012

Hi Gina!

Thanks for bumping. Yes, I believe that you are the 4th to join in. I've got 1 more chemo infusion and then radiation beginning on the 30th. I survived most of chemo with my energy intact but now am flagging a bit. Was your experience similar?

Don't worry about Spanish skills; my own are definitely not what they once were.

VVH

dsv · July 2012

Hi Gina and VVH,

Hope you are both doing well. My Spanish writing skills are also not great (shame on me).

Gina...are you all done with treatment and how are you doing? VVH...sending happy thoughts for your last chemo!

This is my second time with breast cancer, both primaries. I am done with chemo but still have Herceptin infusions until October. Herceptin tends to thin your hair and slows hair growth so I am really missing my hair!!

Take care ladies. Dios las bendiga.

Dora

Anonymous · July 2012

Hi Dora,

Thanks for checking out the forum. Thanks also for the good wishes. Thursday is coming up soon. Sending you positive thoughts.

VVH

sagina · July 2012

Hi Dora and Veilka.

Been away from the boards for a bit, work has been crazy.

I finished treatment June 2011. I had the whole enchilada - chemo to shrink the tumor, then surgery, then rads.

Anonymous · July 2012

Wow Gina! You did it all. Tomorrow is my last infusion and I am thrilled! Swelling legs, arms, torso but still glad its going to be over soon.

VVH

islandmom · July 2012

Hello I was happy to find this forum. Am I number 5? My name is Luz. I am from South America but live in Florida.

I finished chemo in March 2011. I am so happy to have hair and my energy back.

VVH thanks for starting this thread, so good to hear you will be getting your LAST infusion.

Anonymous · July 2012

Hi Luz! Welcome. So glad that you are here!

VVH

islandmom · July 2012

VVH How are you feeling? You must be very happy to be DONE Smile

.

Anonymous · July 2012

Hi,

Thanks! Tryign to relax but nervous about what side effects I'll get this time. can't stand the taste/food side effects. I'm going to the gym today. I have felt weaker as a result of this. I also want to relax. Thsoe are my big plans for the week and then I start radiation. Anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

VVH

dreaming · July 2012

I am a long term survivor, I post to tell that there is future after dx. I had a few scares during all the years after finishing chemo.

I also was born in South America, wishing all of you to get well . Dora , your primaries were the same year? Or after several?

Un saludo cariñoso a todas y que Dios y la Virgen las protega.

dsv · July 2012

Hi Dreaming,

Glad you joined the forum. Sounds like you are doing well. My first primary was in 2006 and my second was in July of 2011. Had a bilateral mastectomy this time and finished chemo again in January. I also started Tamoxifen again in May. I was diagnosed with a estogen positive second primary even though I had been taking Tamoxifen for almost 5 years before...only difference this time was it was Her2 positive. Gracias a Dios que estoy mejorando cada dia....bendiciones!

Anonymous · July 2012

Hi everyone

Glad that your re here. I'm having trouble with this last tc inform of constipation. Any ideas?

VVH

dsv · July 2012

Dear Vielke......I am so sorry you are dealing with constipation. Wish I had some advice for you but I had the opposite problem through out my chemo (diahrrea). I hope someone comes along soon with some ideas for you. Also, call your doctor and ask for something to help. Our culture would tell you to drink "un te de yerba buena" but of course, use caution and run by your doctor. Hope you feel better soon!

nandia · July 2012

Hi Everyone,

I was just DX with BC almost 3 weeks ago. I am 36 yrs old and found a lump on my right breast (2-3cm) about a month ago. I am originally from Peru and have a family history of BC and OC. I am in the stages of getting a 2nd opinion and undergoing (waiting for results) of my genetic testing. I was just told this past week that I have TNBC. I have been reading an reasearching all about it and it truly scares me with what I have found, ugh. It seems that the treatments are not like other forms of BC. My only concern is that I may continue to work as much as possible for my 2 children so I can maintain a roof above our heads but it seems like my BC is more involved and longer treated. I am scared to physically change in front of my children, family and friends. Are there any latinas out there with the same dx of BC as myself?

dreaming · July 2012

For constipation we tell patients to drink prune juice, also like it mas mention ask your doctor for stool softener.

I still go crazy when I have mt exams, thinking on a second BC, or a recurrence, I do not have any cancer in my family but I am in this like the majority .

I did change, loss of hair, great skin for the lack of it, I gained weight, people telling me "you look good"I used to be skin and bones, cancer gave a healthy look. My only close family were my husband and 2 kids, my mom and extended family were in Bolivia, no need to let them know.

What I did to live with my dx, was that since I have never met anybody that had cancer, I signed as a volunteer in a cancer center, My University studies do not have nothing to do with medicine, and I ended going back and studying to work in the medical field with cancer patients.

I contacted Reach to Recovery and they send a letter to each of my children;explaining to them what to expect, it was well done perfect for each age. Just take care and surround with positive people, and pamper yourselves, take care.

Moderators · July 2012

VVH, there's an article on the main Breastcancer.org site all about constipation, its causes, and how to manage it. There's also a forum thread with pages and pages of discussion and suggestions from other members about how to deal with this oh-so-common problem.

Latinas/Hispanics with Breast Cancer

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