Bilingual Cancer Support Unit Begun

Seeking to comfort Latino cancer patients and their families, the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura recently launched a weekly Spanish-language support and education program at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center.

Cancer patients and their families gather every Wednesday for the bilingual session at the hospital, which serves about 200 Latino patients weekly in its oncology clinics and treatment programs.

“Being diagnosed with cancer frightens anyone,” said Marty Nason, program director for Wellness Community, a nonprofit community-based organization in Westlake Village. “It can be especially hard for a relative newcomer who may not speak or read English.”

Organizers said a key part of the initiative is a volunteer peer-support group called los aliados, or the allies, who meet either one-on-one or in small groups with patients and their family members.

“Many of the aliados are themselves cancer survivors,” said Betty Rodriguez, outreach program coordinator. “By relating their own experiences, they help new attendees feel more empowered to fight for their recovery.”

The idea for the outreach project was sparked by Wellness Community members who realized there were no Latino clients among the 450 patients they serve every month, Nason said.

After an extensive needs-assessment study, Wellness Community launched its first Spanish-language cancer support group in October at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Canoga Park, which has about 10,000 Latino parishioners.

In addition to support groups, Wellness Community offers educational workshops by psychotherapists, nutritionists and physicians at its Westlake Village headquarters.