"El grupo de Círculo de Vida ha sido para mi tan importante porque he conocido a mis compañeras y les he podido compartir estos problemas tan duros que nos ha dado la vida. Gracias a todas ellas hemos podido salir adelante. El grupo es nuestra segunda familia."

"The Círculo de Vida support group has so important to me because of the friends I have known, and shared the common problems that life has dealt us. Thanks to all them we have been able to move forward. The group is our second family."
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"Círculo de Vida ha sido para mi más que un grupo de apoyo emocional, ha sido un "espacio" familiar donde he podido expresar mis miedos, angustias y recibir la comprensión, el cariño, el apoyo y la solidaridad humana que me ha ayudado en la sobrevivencia de esta terrible epidemia llamada cáncer. Gracias!"

"Círculo de Vida has given me more than emotional support ­ it has provided a familiar place where I can express my fears and anxieties, and receive understanding, love and solidarity which has helped me survive this terrible epidemic called cancer. Thanks!"
Maricela Navarrete
Group member since May 2002

"Círculo de Vida a sido para me de mucha ayuda. En el grupo podemos compartir y platicar todos nuestros problemas que tenemos relacionados con el cáncer. Podemos expresar y platicar cosas que no podemos compartir con nuestra familia y otras personas."

"Círculo de Vida has been so helpful to me. In the support group we can share and talk about our problems with cancer. We can share things that we cannot share with our families and with others."
Zoila Chicas
Group member since Nov 2003

"En el grupo yo encuentro siempre amistad sincera, comprensión, y mucho cariño."

"In the group I always encounter sincere friendship, understanding, and lots of love."
Hermana Carmen Diaz
Group member since May 1995

"El grupo significa para mí un lugar de apoyo, amor, y compañerismo, donde puedo hablar y tener repuestas a muchas preguntas sobre el cáncer. Gracias compañeras, gracias Carmen."

"The group provides me a place for support, love and companionship, where I can talk and get all my questions answered about cancer. Thank you friends, thank you Carmen."
Alba Avalos
Group member since Feb 2002

Board Quotes:
"As an immigrant my family experienced the difficulties of navigating through a new system and the challenges to communicate well with others when we were in need. Círculo de Vida fills that void for many families that are now suffering with cancer. Círculo de Vida brings hope to many families in need and the strong commitment from its staff, dedication and its mission and goal motivates me to keep working with the board."
Hermes Aleman
Board Member

"I discovered Círculo de Vida when a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, and was deeply impressed with the breadth and depth of services provided by the organization."
Deborah Wald
Board Member

Partner Quotes:
"In general, Latino cancer patients are under tremendous stress from loss of income as well as language and cultural barriers to health care. Many are separated from their families by great distance. For over ten years, Círculo de Vida has provided critical support, education and advocacy to these patients in our hospital and the San Francisco Bay Area community."
Anita Kline, MSW
Oncology Social Worker, San Francisco General Hospital

"Eight years ago WomenCARE in Santa Cruz was struggling to find a successful cancer support group model which would adequately serve the needs of Latinas. Our efforts to replicate the outreach methods that had been quite successful in the Anglo community, were met with discouraging results within the Latina population. Clearly something about our approach was not meeting the needs of Spanish speaking women, but we didn't know how to make the necessary adaptations. What a relief it was to us when we first heard Carmen Ortiz describing the success of the cancer support groups she had developed at Circulo de Vida in San Francisco. Thanks to the training our staff received from Carmen and the ongoing consultation and guidance she has continued to provide, Entre Nosotras (WomenCARE's program for Spanish speaking women with cancer) is now thriving to the point of outgrowing its current office space. Two bilingual/bicultural specialists facilitate three successful long-term support groups conducted entirely in Spanish. Key to the success of this program is Carmen's advocacy for providing individual in-home and/or hospital counseling sessions for Latinas. I am grateful to say that the seeds of Carmen's vision have taken root in Santa Cruz County and they are growing."
Connie Batten
Director, WomenCARE

"Circulo de Vida's program has been so beneficial to our community. Our clients remark on it's cultural and language appropriateness which makes them feel comfortable and safe while dealing with cancer. They enjoy the relationships they've made with the staff and women in their support groups. It helps them, feel connected to others in similar situations to their own - they know they are not alone."
Giselle Clark-Ibanez, Case Manager
LifeLines Breast Cancer Program

"With the growing incidence of breast and other cancers in the Bay Area Latino community, Circulo de Vida plays a critical role in making sure that the people affected - both those with cancer and their families - have the support they need. Spanish-speaking people in San Francisco have access to the best resource for cancer information and support at Circulo."
Barbara Brenner
Executive Director, Breast Cancer Action