Empowering Breast Cancer Survivors During COVID-19

Testimonials from the community

How did COVID-19 personally affect our communities?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating on a global scale.
Black/African American and Latinx individuals have been at greater risk to contract the virus that causes COVID-19 due to a variety of factors. Some including increased presence as frontline or critical workers and living environments consisting of multigenerational homes or crowded building.
Pre-existing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes have led to an even larger chance of hospitalization or death once diagnosed.
Compared to White individuals of similar age, Black/African American and Latinx individuals have been twice as likely to die from COVID-19.

Here is what motivated Latina and Black/African-American leaders in the community to get vaccinated against COVID-19:

Meet Thelma D. Jones

“As a 14-year late stage, aggressive breast cancer survivor with an underlying health condition, I feel that it's extremely important for me to be vaccinated as it will not only help to reduce my chances of hospitalization but also reduce my chances of even death. Being vaccinated also allows me to serve as a model example to others, especially in my community, on the importance of being vaccinated as well. The vaccination is the most important tool in fighting the spread of the disease. Wearing a mask adds another layer of protection, along with frequent handwashing with soap and water and practicing social distancing when necessary.”

-Thelma D. Jones, breast cancer survivor and founder of the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund

Meet Jacqueline Beale

“As a breast cancer survivor and the recipient of the vaccine, I've learned through the course of both events in my life: I need to remember a few things. Patience with the process is essential, perseverance through the journey is required, and taking time to pause and remind myself that healing (physical, emotional, and mental) is not ordinarily instantaneous. It usually comes in bite-size pieces incrementally with discomfort, but one day we can look up and realize we've made it through the journey with grace, even with all its uncomfortableness. As a community, we must recognize the necessity of the vaccine to keep us well, hold each other's hands when it gets rough, and celebrate the victory together. As Van Gogh said, ‘Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.’ I view my breast cancer survivorship and the ability to combat the COVID-19 pandemic by getting the vaccine, similarly.”

-Jacqueline Beale, breast cancer survivor

Meet Ana Quijada

"When the pandemic arrived, I, like many people, was very afraid of catching it. The most difficult thing was not being able to visit our family and not being able to share time with our friends. A few months later, I heard about the vaccine against the virus. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information that causes fear in many people, especially the Latinx community.

My family and I got vaccinated to protect our community now it's time for you to do it too, especially people who are undergoing cancer treatment or have a compromised immune system. The vaccine does not hurt compared to what the virus can cause. The vaccine means protection and hope to end this pandemic. "

- Ana Quijada, breast cancer survivor and patient navigator manager at Nueva Vida

Finding a light at the end of the tunnel

Here is how the breast cancer survivors of our community persevered throughout the pandemic and found hope in vaccines:

What do the members of your community think? Like relatives, neighbors, friends, other survivors. What do they think about the vaccine?

"We are all going to get the vaccine, in the family we all agree. One of my daughters almost got a vaccine. The day I got it, they were all happy because the other one–a nurse who is there took photos of me and I sent photos to them.

'I already put it on', and they said, 'oh, how good mom, we feel better that you are already vaccinated'. So, my sister already put it on, my brothers are on the list, my husband too, everyone. We are all going to get it. My husband's family had covid, all eight, so everyone is waiting for a vaccine."

- Latina Participant from COVID-19 Study.

Testimonial English 1A

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Do you think it's important to get the vaccine, and if they offered it to you would you take it?

"I think it's important because of the idea that I actually lived through this history. You know how back in the day, there may have been an outbreak of smallpox or whatever, and we wasn’t here, we wasn't allowed to be a part of it, but the fact that I was here, I lived it.

Like I saw every day the numbers go up and kill people, lost people at church, people back home where I'm from in South Carolina. So, the fact that I actually lived it, I am going to take it because I know that it was real and lives have been lost and I am high risk because of my previous breast cancer diagnosis."

- African-American Participant from COVID-19 Study.

Testimonial English 2A

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Do you think it is important to get the vaccine? I know you have already gotten it, but for others?

"Yes. I think some time ago I was extremely reluctant to get the vaccine, because in reality, there were so many negative comments, that it made me scared. But after I had the information, well yes, I got vaccinated. I think it's important, right? Since we are children, we get vaccinated to counteract many diseases. And well, when I had the necessary information too, that's when I felt a little more confident. Ultimately, I am vaccinated, and I'm still on this earth. "

- Latina Participant from COVID-19 Study.

Website Testimonial [ENG].m4a

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For the protection and confidentiality of our study participants, the images and audios shown above are not their real identities.

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