The call came late at night. A woman—terrified, exhausted—whispered into the phone. Her mother had been diagnosed with cancer, and she had no idea what to do next. She didn’t speak English. She didn’t understand the medical jargon doctors were using. And worst of all, she feared that seeking care would put her family at risk.
This wasn’t just one story. It was thousands.
For twenty years, Latinas Contra Cancer (LCC) has answered those calls—guiding, advocating, and fighting for Latino families who would otherwise be left behind.
A Vision Rooted in Advocacy
In 2003, award-winning journalist Ysabel Duron was recovering from her own battle with cancer when she recognized a devastating reality: Latinos faced far greater obstacles to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship than other communities. Many Spanish-speaking patients struggled to navigate a system that wasn’t built for them, and many more didn’t seek help at all—fearing financial ruin, deportation, or simply feeling unwelcome in medical spaces.
Determined to bridge this gap, Duron founded Latinas Contra Cancer to ensure that no Latino cancer patient would have to fight alone. Over the years, the organization has transformed from a grassroots effort into a movement, breaking down barriers in healthcare through patient navigation, education, and advocacy.
At LCC, no one battles cancer alone. The organization is there for its clients at every step—helping them navigate not only their diagnosis but also the many social and economic challenges that stand in the way of survivorship. Whether it is securing an air conditioner for a woman undergoing chemotherapy during a brutal heatwave, providing a high-quality wig or breast prosthesis for a breast cancer survivor, or arranging therapy sessions for patients overwhelmed by the emotional toll of cancer, LCC works to meet these needs—at no cost to its clients, in both English and Spanish.
Enabling Communities Through Promotoras
For many Latino families, the challenges of cancer aren’t just medical—they’re cultural, financial, and deeply personal. Some patients are diagnosed late because they never had access to preventative screenings. Others miss chemotherapy because they can’t afford transportation to the hospital. Some hesitate to seek care at all, afraid their immigration status might put them at risk.
LCC’s Promotora model—a network of trained community health workers—was created to combat these very issues. Promotoras educate families, guide them through treatment, and help them advocate for themselves.
“As a Promotora for Latinas Contra Cancer, conducting workshops in the community fills me with satisfaction because people leave empowered,” one LCC educator shared. “They no longer feel alone—they know what questions to ask, what resources to seek, and most importantly, that they deserve care.”
Through this peer-to-peer education model, LCC has helped thousands of Latinos navigate the healthcare system with confidence and dignity.
Patient Navigators: Fighting for Those Who Can’t Fight Alone
A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, but for many Latino families, the logistics of survival are just as overwhelming. LCC’s Patient Navigation Program ensures that individuals don’t just receive a diagnosis—they receive the support necessary to make it through treatment.
One in four Latino cancer patients faces language barriers that delay their treatment.
For some, that barrier is financial—choosing between rent and medical bills. For others, it’s simply getting to their doctor’s appointments.
One patient shared: “Thanks to the LCC navigator, I have been able to receive help for transportation to go to chemotherapy. That way, my wife has been able to continue working and not have to take me to appointments.”
By tackling social determinants of health—like access to food, housing, and financial assistance—LCC ensures that patients can fight cancer without fighting for survival at the same time.
The organization is committed to decreasing cancer-related health disparities among Latinos in Santa Clara County through community health outreach, education, screening, and bilingual navigation services. By removing barriers and offering personalized, culturally relevant assistance, LCC ensures that patients receive transportation, financial aid, and even critical emotional support to improve their chances of recovery.
20 Years of Impact—And the Work Continues
LCC is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, a milestone that marks two decades of relentless advocacy, systemic change, and life-saving work. But rather than just looking back, the organization is looking ahead, launching two groundbreaking programs to tackle some of the greatest challenges still facing Latino cancer patients.
- Prescription: Housing Pilot, a partnership with Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, will help ensure that cancer patients struggling with housing insecurity have a safe place to heal.
- The Defensoras: Healthcare Advocate Learning Space is a new facilitated, collaborative, and interactive space focused on healthcare delivery systems, effective patient advocacy, race and gender-based health disparities, and movement building. This initiative will train Latinas to become fierce healthcare advocates, ensuring that future generations won’t have to navigate the system alone.
“For 20 years, we have educated, navigated, and supported thousands of people in this valley,” said Darcie Green, Executive Director of LCC. “We’ve helped patients get to and from their cancer appointments, ensured their basic needs were met so they could focus on healing and caring for their families. We’ve helped them understand care plans, reduce cancer risks, access screenings, and enroll in medical insurance.”
Latinas Contra Cancer is proof that change happens when communities come together to fight for equity and care.
Join the Movement
Anyone who believes in health equity can participate in the movement by donating, volunteering, or becoming an advocate. Latinas Contra Cancer provides multiple ways to get involved:
- Donate to keep lifesaving programs running
- Volunteer to support patient navigation
- Join the Defensoras program and become a healthcare advocate
To learn more, visit www.latinascontracancer.org.
For 20 years, Latinas Contra Cancer has worked to bridge the gap between diagnosis and survivorship for Latino cancer patients. As they look to the future, their mission remains the same: ensuring that every person—regardless of language, income, or background—has access to the care and support they need.