Curémonos Provides Breast Cancer Education to Women in Need

When Dora Arias was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, the news completely threw her, she said. Even though the mom of two daughters had the support of her loving family, health insurance and financial stability, she was overwhelmed not only with the fear of leaving her family behind, but also at the thought of navigating the road ahead.

Arias, who was born in Colombia and currently lives in Mountainside, said she immediately thought, if she were struggling with her diagnosis, what must it be like for someone who didn’t speak English or have all the resources necessary to battle the disease.

A grassroots effort

In June of 2007, after conquering cancer, Arias started Curémonos, a grassroots, Summit-based organization to provide education, advocacy, and support to medically under-served women, primarily Latinas, who are dealing with breast health concerns or a breast cancer diagnosis in and around Union County.

While it wasn’t easy getting started on her own, by 2009, Arias registered Curémonos, which means healing together, as a non-profit and has been empowering women ever since.

• educated over 1,000 women on the importance of breast health and early detection of breast cancer 
• served over 250 medically underserved and uninsured women, 
• educated over 75 healthcare providers on the cultural aspects and needs of Latinas affected by breast cancer
• established several support group and one-day programs to help Latina survivors learn how to reduce stress and promote good health.

"People have been writing, 'How can I help you?', 'Do you have branch near me?', 'How can we start a branch?', 'How can I get a free mammogram?' One woman mailed me a check for $100. When I wrote her a thank you note, she wrote back to say, 'Dora, I give to many charities but I have never received a personal thank you note. I am going to send Curémonos $50 a month from now on,'" Arias said. 

Although some questions have come from as far away as Texas, Arias said over the past seven years she has learned so much that she is able to point nearly every woman in the right direction to obtain the help they need. 

"I feel like I am the traffic person, in the middle, sending them where they need to go. That is what Curémonos can do," she said. 

Looking ahead

In the new year, Arias said she wants to provide breast health information to the homeless community in Newark by partnering with Bridges. The breast health advocate said she was surprised to learn that while the homeless women can receive information about diabetes, aids, and high blood pressure, no one is providing breast health information.

Empowering women to be their own advocate

Another crucial thing she has learned on her journey is that knowledge is power. Arias said she advises that every woman should be her own advocate. 

"Women need to understand which type of cancer they have, what stage it is in, and what is the best course of treatment," she said. "A lot of the fear women have comes from uncertainty. If we can help them understand each step of the way, then we can take away that fear."

For more information, visit Curémonos' website or email darias@curemonos.org.