Bridging the Gap for Latina Breast Cancer Survivors

At the Rock Your Ribbon Event hosted by 305 Pink Pack, Eileen Lopez Tomei, a stage 3b breast cancer survivor and certified survivorship coach, spoke to the unique challenges facing Hispanic and Latina cancer survivors and why bilingual community events are essential to closing the gap.

Lopez Tomei was diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive, progesterone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer in July 2016. After four months of chemotherapy, a bilateral mastectomy, and radiation treatment, she emerged from active treatment with a new sense of purpose. Today she coaches cancer survivors, with a particular focus on Latina and Hispanic women, a community she says faces a distinct set of obstacles when it comes to navigating a cancer diagnosis.

"For us, it is uniquely challenging," she said. "We are usually the strong ones in our families, the ones that keep it all together, and generally put ourselves at the bottom of the to-do list, including our health."

That cultural dynamic, she explained, extends into how Hispanic women interact with the healthcare system. Many are socialized not to question their doctors, which can make it harder to advocate for themselves during diagnosis and treatment. Stigma and accessibility issues compound the challenge further, leaving many survivors without the resources or support they need.

That is precisely where events like Rock Your Ribbon come in. Lopez Tomei described bilingual gatherings as critical spaces for education, resource-sharing, and community building, particularly for those who might not otherwise know what questions to ask or where to turn.

"You walk away with maybe a list of questions and things that you want to ask your doctor that you might not have come up with on your own," she said.

Beyond information, she emphasized that the emotional value of these events is just as significant. For survivors who may feel isolated in their experience, finding a room full of people who understand can be transformative.

"Survivors, not just of breast cancer but of all types of cancer, feel less alone," she said. "They can find community, which is, I think, the most important thing."

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