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For most people, September is simply the boundary between summer and autumn. But for those of us whose lives have been touched by cancer, it is a month of heavy significance. For me, that weight is doubled. September is both Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month.
As a survivor of both prostate cancer and follicular lymphoma, this month always arrives with a complex rush of emotions. It acts as a double mirror, forcing me to look back at the distinct, grueling struggles of two entirely different diagnoses. It reawakens the ghosts of past anxieties, the clinical chill of treatment rooms, and the profound vulnerability of being a patient. That is the bitter side of September—the visceral reminder of what was endured.
If you are currently facing a diagnosis, undergoing treatment, or navigating the overwhelming world of scans and doctors, I want you to know: I remember that bitterness. I know how heavy it feels.
Yet, as the years have passed, a profound sweetness has woven itself into this month.
That sweetness doesn’t come from pretending the past didn’t happen. It comes from the privilege of standing on the other side of survival and reaching my hand back out to you. My journey through two separate cancers compelled me to step into the work of advocacy. It transformed my private pain into a public promise: to ensure that no one in our comunidad walks this terrifying path alone, and that your family (familia) has the support and answers they deserve.
When I look at September now, I don’t just see the light blue and lime green ribbons of my own diagnoses. I see your faces. I see your resilience. As Latino patients, we often face unique background-specific hurdles, language gaps, and other challenges in healthcare. But we also possess an incredible, undeniable strength. The bitterness of my memory has become the fuel for my empathy, and the sweetness of my survival is the proof I offer you today that there is hope.
Please remember that it is okay if this month—or any day—feels too heavy. It is okay to feel afraid, tired, or overwhelmed. But please, do not carry that weight in silence. Connect with fellow patients, listen to the medical professionals who are bringing groundbreaking new treatments to light, and lean on those of us who are here to fight alongside you.
This September, I honor the struggles that brought me here, but I deeply savor the sweetness of being able to share this message with you. You are not alone. Together, with corazón, faith, and the power of our community, we face the bitter days ahead to reach the sweet ones waiting for you on the other side.
Author’s Note: I am sharing my story through Salud America not only to remember my own path, but to bring visibility to the unique realities we face as Latino patients. Cancer does not just impact our bodies; it impacts our families and our entire community. By speaking out, I hope to transform private pain into a bridge of support, education, and medical fairness for all of us.
Add Your Voice to Nuestras Voces
This narrative, written by a Latino cancer survivor for Latino cancer survivors, is part of collection of bilingual short stories called “Nuestras Voces.”
Nuestras Voces invites Latino cancer survivors to reflect on their unique experiences and share insight into the challenges survivors like them face on a daily basis.
The campaign was launched by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, leader of Salud America!, the Institute for Health Promotion Research, and community outreach and engagement at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
“When Latino cancer survivors tell their stories, they can help future cancer survivors who go through what they went through,” Ramirez said. “Sharing can also help survivors heal the physical and invisible scars left by cancer.”
To learn more about the Nuestras Voces campaign, submit your story, or read other stories, visit the Nuestras Voces page in English or Spanish on the Salud America! website.
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CancerBy The Numbers
142
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Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years
This success story was produced by Salud America! with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The stories are intended for educational and informative purposes. References to specific policymakers, individuals, schools, policies, or companies have been included solely to advance these purposes and do not constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation. Stories are based on and told by real community members and are the opinions and views of the individuals whose stories are told. Organization and activities described were not supported by Salud America! or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and do not necessarily represent the views of Salud America! or the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
