Fiesta Friday

by Helen Palomino

Kashmir Nightclub presents Fiesta Friday! A night of Salsa and Latin Dance with the special guest instructor Bladimir. 

Thank you from CRCD

by Helen Palomino

CRCD would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to those who participated in the 2014 Desert Lily Campaign. Thanks to the overwhelming support of scores of community volunteers we were able to distribute over 2,100 bouquets of lilies.  It is important to note that during the course of the campaign, CRCD continued with its Patient Navigation services working with 82 cancer patients during that period of time alone.

We would like to thank our sponsors: Vessey & Co. Inc., Johnny’s Burritos, Desert RV Service, Home Depot, Alford Distributing, Cal Energy, Prime Lending, Vantage Oncology, Fred & Mary Acosta, Glenn & Norma Chapin, Walter Strahm Farms, Ernie Strahm & Sons, Inc., Clifford and Concepcion Caldwell, Castillo Construction, Sun Community Federal Credit Union, Pestmaster Services, SANBON, Inc., El Zarate Restaruant, Ben Abatti Farms, Kuhn Hay, Rick Macken, Al & Harlene Roach, William Derek Quan, Sheriff Ray Loera, Ray Castillo, Neil Wakley and Lucie Bryant.

Once again, thank you Imperial Valley for your continued support as we work to ensure that cancer patients in our community receive the support that they need to navigate through the cancer journey.

Student Research Symposium 2014 at San Diego State University

by Helen Palomino

Congratulations to Mercedes Garcia-Watson and Nathalie F. Uriarte presenting at the Student Research Symposium 2014 at San Diego State University. 

A qualitative study on "Barriers and Challenges to Cancer Treatment and the Role of Patient Navigators: From the Perspectives of Rural Latino Cancer Patients". 

This student project was in partnership with the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert and Dr. EJ Ko, Assistant Professor, San Diego State University.

Thank you to all of the participants that made this student research project possible.

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Two Valleys.. One Foucs... YOU!!

by Helen Palomino

Cancer Resource Center is doing a collaborative work with Mujeres que Viven (Women that Live) coming together for the first Bi-National campaign: "Two Vallyes, One Foucs, You."    Partnering with other agencies such as Planned Parenthood, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, and Pioneer's Memorial Hospital, we are presenting this campaign to create awareness of the importance of self-exploration for all women and mammograms for those who qualify.  

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Sponsorship for the Community Campout Against Cancer on Oct 19-20 2013.

by Helen Palomino

Cancer Resource Center of the Desert is having their annual Community Campout on October 19-20, 2013 from 6pm to 6am.  CRCD is very appreciative of having great sponsors. The Community Campout Against Cancer is possible because of the sponsors, volunteers, and the teams that donate, help and participate in our annual campout.  Thank you!! 

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Symposium Event

by Helen Palomino

The Cancer Resource Center of the Desert (CRCD) hosted a community symposium on cross-border utilization of Healthcare by Women with Breast Cancer.  It was held on September 7, 2013 at Imperial Valley College.  
Click on the photo below for more photos or go into our facebook page at facebook.com/crcd.ic

The Cancer Resource Center of the Desert (CRCD) fue anfitrion de un Simposio Comunitario de la utilizacion transfronteriza de asistencia medica por mujeres con cancer de seno.  Se llevo acabo el dia 7 de Septiembre del 2013 en Imperial Valley College.  

Haga click en la foto de la parte de abajo para ver mas fotos o valla a nuestra pagina de facebook en facebook.com/crcd.ic

2013 Community Campout, Oct 19 & 20

by Helen Palomino

You are invited to participate in our annual Community Campout.  It will he held on October 19 & 20 from 6:00p.m. to 6:00a.m.  Here is the flyer for the details.  

Presione la imagen para ver la informacion en Español.

 

PIMSA Project

by Helen Palomino

We hope you can join us on September 7, 2013  10:00 to 11:30a.m. at the IVC Science Building Auditorium ( building number 2700-2734)   as we plan to discuss our preliminary findings of our PIMSA Project regarding breast cancer treatment decision making and cross border utilization of health care. 

A RURAL UNDERSERVED AREA IN CALIFORNIA

by Diana Peacher

CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER PATIENTS AND BARRIERS TO APPROPRIATE ACCESS TO CANCER TREATMENT: A RURAL UNDERSERVED AREA IN CALIFORNIA

Student’s Name: Helen Palomino, MSW Supervising Mentor: Jong-Deuk Baek, PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: Cancer care disparities are well reported between racial minority groups including African Americans and Hispanic populations. This report is, as far as we know, the first attempt to show the financial burden and insurance conversion among cancer patients in the medically underserved U.S./Mexico area of Imperial County, California. The objectives of this report are to evaluate demographic and cancer characteristics among patients living in a rural medically underserved Imperial County community and to evaluate financial and other barriers to cancer care faced by patients living in this community.
Method: Data from this report was analyzed using a sample of 308 CRCD clients of both genders, with varying cancer diagnosis, and enrolled in CRCD from January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012. The majority of CRCD cancer patients in the sample are Latino/Hispanic (85%).
Results: Majority of cancer patients are younger (< 60 of age), under FPL, and small household (one or less). Higher proportions of breast cancer and blood cancer; higher proportions of female and younger patients diagnosed at Mexico; females have higher percentage of advanced cancer diagnosis. Financial burden, transportation, and language/cultural barriers were found to be the major concerns/needs of cancer patients.
Conclusion: When obstacles arise, it is vital that there be an advocate/partner with the patient to mitigate or remove barriers that interfere with the continuum of cancer care. Financial concerns and limited access to cancer care are significant challenges throughout the diagnostic, treatment, and post treatment journey in Imperial County. 

Read the entire manuscript from Helen's internship Exito