Partnership will bring cancer support service to Calexico
CALEXICO — Trying to fill a gap in cancer-related services in the city, the Imperial Valley Cancer Support Center has partnered with the Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District to bring its services to Calexico. As part of the agreement, IVCSC will have staff at the HMHD offices in Calexico where they’ll deliver physical and emotional support services to patients with cancer and their families.
IVCSC, formerly known as Between Women, is a non-profit organization based in Brawley that delivers an array of cancer-related services to cancer patients and their families at no cost. Executive Director Oreda Chin said that out of the more than 150 patients the organization received last year, a third came from Calexico. In order to accommodate the need, Chin and her staff will be available to Calexico residents at the HMHD offices on Mondays starting April 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in addition to two Saturdays of each month.
“The reason we are here is that we see cancer growing as well as the need here in Calexico to provide services that are accessible,” Chin said. “We’re going to do just that, support the people of Calexico. Transportation has always been an issue, and this makes it more convenient to offer them the same quality service we offer the [rest of] Valley.
One of the local residents who will benefit from the expansion of services is Calexico resident and breast cancer survivor Ana Pelayo. She has driven to the IVCSC office in Brawley for nearly two years after she was first diagnosed with breast cancer.
“It’s very important for the city of Calexico to have this type of service available here in the city,” she said. “Many people in Calexico don’t have the money or ability to go to Brawley. It’s also very important because there is a lot of misinformation, and some get bad medical care when they go to Mexicali.”
Since she first sought the assistance of IVCSC, Pelayo has gone surgery to have her breast removed and recently completed the second stage of reconstruction. Throughout the long process, being part of the support group has helped her cope with the physical and emotional challenges that come during the recovery process.
Pelayo added the interaction with other women who are going through similar experiences has helped her to gain the support of a second “family.” She has learned to value herself, and she is looking forward to continuing the process in her own community.
The agreement with IVCSC is the latest of a series HMHD has finalized in recent months. The district has also partnered with El Centro Regional Medical Center, Pioneers Memorial Hospital and others.
“The Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District works every day to bring the best medical services, creating new partnerships with other health institutions to achieve a healthier Calexico,” said HMHD Board President Hector Martinez.
According to Chin, the most common types of cancer in the valley include breast, colon and rectal cancer for women and prostate, lung and colon cancer for men.
By expanding their presence to Calexico, one of the main goals the organization has is to further educate the public and dispel myths about the disease.
“We’re excited about this opportunity, I’d like to thank HMHD board to allow us to use their facilities and believe in our vision to help bring our services to the residents of the city of Calexico in this fight against cancer,” Chin said. “We are going to deliver care; we are going to deliver support, and we are going to do it all with compassion.”
For more information call IVCSC at (760) 351-1774