Circulo De Vida Cancer Support and Resource Center

Circulo de Vida and Carmen Ortiz are nothing short of amazing. Carmen's clarity about the needs of Latinas and their families following a cancer diagnosis never waivers no matter the obstacles, which are many. Carmen has been relentless (in a good way) about finding funding sources to keep the doors of this Center open, and expanding programming whenever possible. We all need to support this important work to offer culturally relevant services following such a devastating diagnosis. Carmen and the Circulo de Vida team are a tremendous community asset, and they rock! I have been in awe for years of this organization and its leader.

Circulo de Vida is an incredible organization that has helped so many women, men, and families in our community deal with the challenges of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. I have spoken with innumerable women over the years who have recounted how Carmen Ortiz, the Executive Director, and support group members have assisted with information and resources at just the right time. The program is linked with the breast cancer clinic in the public hospital so women learn of Circulo’s services at the point of diagnosis. Carmen and her wonderful staff and volunteers assure that there is a friendly face in clinic to let newly diagnosed Latinas know that they are not alone. Importantly, Circulo offers a range of services for women and their families so that those uncomfortable with support groups can receive one-on-one peer support and in-home visits, while those looking for more social and community support can attend weekly support and educational meetings. The support model developed by Carmen Ortiz at Circulo de Vida has been replicated in other community based organizations across the city, largely because of Carmen’s generosity and commitment to addressing the needs of families dealing with cancer from all communities and backgrounds. Carmen has shared her training materials with other programs, and consulted with those under development. Her work, and that of Circulo, is changing lives and improving our community in essential ways.

Circulo de Vida, and especially, Carmen Ortiz, the organization's Executive Director, has her angel wings awaiting her. I was referred to Carmen when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer over 20 years ago. My mom was reluctant to participate in any Spanish-language support groups - she did not want to share her innermost thoughts and fears with a group of strangers. By the time the 3rd session came around, my mom could not wait to attend her group sessions! It was the warm, Latina-oriented sessions in her language of comfort that kept her coming back. Thanks to Carmen, the ladies enjoyed excursions to Reno and Yosemite and other celebrations together. My mom's photo, along with others who have perished from this devastating disease, is on their altar. It is because of these joyous memories of Circulo de Vida and the culturally sensitive and respectful care that they give that compelled me to join their board first as a board member and now as the Board President. We host an annual fundraising walk at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. A day to remember those who have entered into the spirit world and those who continue to battle against it. We are blessed to have such a wonderful organization in our midst to provide the emotional support that is so badly needed in our communidad. Que viva Circulo de Vida!! Gracias, Circulo de Vida!!

I was first introduced to Circulo De Vida in 2007 when my Mom was diagnosed with cancer as a source of support and resources. I soon learned that there is a large Latino community that was being served and aided by this small (but growing) center. I never realized so many Spanish speaking individuals and families would not know what services were out there for them if it wasn't for Circulo De Vida. In 2009, my Mother passed away from this heartbreaking illness but I have vowed to help support Circulo De Vida so that they could continue the excellent work they do for victims and families of this illness. They have truely made outstanding contributions for peoples affected by cancer. Keep up the superb work!

I have known Circulo de Vida for almost 10 years. It's an extraordinary organization! They provide emotional support, education on cancer issues, and resources to Latino cancer patients and their families both in English and Spanish. They also provide counseling for children, in-home care, in-hospital care and end-of-life care. Circulo de Vida has created a network with other organizations in order to work together to ease the burden of cancer in the Bay Area Latino population.

A cancer diagnosis is devasting on a family. Imagine receiving that diagnosis and not fully understanding because you do not speak the language and you feel you have no where to turn.
Circulo de Vida gives people a place to turn for real information and support. They are an essential service for the SF community. Thank you to all the volunteers who work to maintain this center!

Circulo de Vida has touched the lives of many Latinos experiencing the anguish of cancer. They provide cancer support services to the most needy and at no charge. They rely sole on the generosity of others. Please consider making a donation and encoring your social networks to contribute. They provide counseling for children, men, women, in-home care, in-hospital care and end-of-life care.

I have known of Circulo de Vida for at least 5 years. It is a great resource to Latina women and men with cancer and their families. They provide emotional support, information, and resources. Carmen and her 'angelitas' (little angels - peer support counselors) are dedicated to helping people affected by cancer. They do not charge for their services - so their doors are open to everyone. It's a great organization!

Over the years as someone who works in behavioral cancer research I have had the opportunity in the context of patient interviews to hear first hand how Circulo de Vida transforms the lives of cancer patients and their families. By creating a supportive community, accompanying patients from a cancer diagnosis through whatever path the disease takes, patients feel strengthened. Being part of an organization that provides comprehensive social services, they feel seen and heard, they feel their dignity restored and no longer feel defined nor limited by a disease. I’ve seen patients thrive before and after reaching remission under the support of Circulo de Vida and I’ve known people who have departed due to cancer. In all these cases the time patients spent as part of this community brought happiness at a difficult time, peace in the midst of despair, and the certitude that they will not be forgotten.
Claudia Guerra

After having worked with many non-profit organizations in the SF Bay Area who address the issue of cancer for Spanish-speaking women, this one stands out! Circulo de Vida Cancer Support and Resource Center is located in the heart of the community, has bilingual staff that is culturally competent on the issue of cancer and understands the important role of familia.

They provide clients with accurate, up-to-date and thorough information and support.

Circulo de Vida is a haven of support and information for Latina women and their families facing cancer. The staff are professional and compassionate, no one is turned away.
Dr. Carmen Ortiz is the unflagging energy who keeps everything moving.

This organization was the first to provide counseling and medical stewardship to the Latino community and is being emulated by local community groups. Dr. Ortiz acts as a consultant to answer questions and provide direction for new and ongoing groups.

Having visited the clinic, I can tell you the sense of warmth, support and professionalism makes you feel relieved, relaxed and welcomed the moment you walk in.

This is a service that truly holds the patient as the most important part of the equation. It deserves monetary support to be able to expand these most needed services.

I am the grandson on my beloved grandmother who provides a huge helping hand to Circulo De Vida, every chance i get i try to volunteer and help out for the breast cancer cause. Every time i have volunteered i had a great time met beautifully spirited cancer patients, survivors and other volunteers. The energy that Circulo De Vida provides for these women is unmatched, it gives diagnosed, recovering and even women who do not have breast cancer a place to go and feel accepted and be able to talk to other women about their experiences. Circulo de Vida provides information for women who are not completely aware of breast cancer or how to detect it. They are very much so involved in the community and want every woman in the area to know about their bodies. Overall the organization is a very helpful one, its brings light to those who live in darkness and i hope that this organization stays around for many more decades.

Circulo de Vida is a one of a kind nonprofit serving a vital sector of our Bay Area Community with compassion. By supporting Latina cancer survivors, their children and families in a culturally sensitive and appropriate way, CDV has led the charge for this kind of service for over 20 years. Our Latino community faces considerable challenges when diagnosed, but Executive Director Carmen Ortiz walks with them throughout process and then stays with them by providing a circle of supportive peers going through similar experiences. The CDV community is a wonder to behold: they give back to each other over and over again.

When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer many years ago, she felt alone and scared even though she had the support of family and friends she still felt alone and confused. During one of her many treatments she was talking to a women who was with Circulo de Vida so my mom and the lady kept close contact and the lady came out to visit my mom at her home and she shared her battle she had with breast cancer, my mom was able to understand that she was not the only one going through the tough time she was able to cope and understand her cancer.

My family and I thank Carmen Ortiz and Circulo de Vida for all the support they provided for my and our family. I love you guys!!!

I am proud to say that my mom Maria Rubio can share her story with others and is able to help and provide the support they need to get through their tough times.

Keep up the great work!

I enjoyed volunteering at circulo de vida as I know that I am helping my community and at the same time honoring my abuelita who was a recipient of Circulo de Vida's spanish language cancer support services.

I recently joined the Board of Circulo de Vida and was drawn by their presence in the Community and to know that the staff really share their time to work with their patients and are truly dedicated to their well being. I was impressed with Venecia who is our teen counselor who is compassionate and is incredible with the children considering their illness and their families. To be working with staff that care and do their best to bring funding for our cancer patients is very important to us all

CDV has been a longstanding community partner of San Francisco General Hospitals' Comprehensive Breast Care Program. Under Carmen Ortiz's superb leadership, our interdisciplinary breast clinic has been able to expand seamless breast cancer patient navigation and emotional support services for our Latina patients with a more personalized and culturally relevant approach. After receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer, CDV bridges the gap for a patient in need of a closer connection to their own community resources with both group and 1:1 based emotional and practical support. This peer-based model has been highly successful and we are so fortunate to work in partnership with Carmen and her team in ensuring that breast cancer survivorship needs are being met at multiple levels.

I had the greatest pleasure of interning with Circulo de Vida for my graduate school practicum, and could not feel more fortunate to have had that experience. From Carmen, the clinical staff, the volunteers, and the incredible, inspiring clients (past and present), I feel forever blessed CDV came into my life. I will forever be impacted from my experience working there, and will carry a special place for this organization in my heart always. There is something so special and unique about CDV, especially given how scarce resources are in a city that should be filled with them. CDV fills that void with their enormous heart. Thank you for the experience and the shared moments with everyone a part of CDV!

Circulo de Vida is quite an exceptional and welcoming haven for those directly or indirectly affected by cancer. I've had the privilege to see first hand the immense positive impact our services have on the SF Bay Area community. Seeing the volunteers, community members and Circulo members coming together every year to fundraise and advocate for our cause, is a clear sign that we are living up to our mission "...to walk alongside Latinos living with cancer and their families as they find their way through the fear, confusion, and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis. We aim to reduce the devastating effects of a cancer diagnosis by helping Latinos identify coping skills that will support their ability to meet the challenge of a frightening disease."

Circulo de Vida is a place where survivors and people with cancer come for upliftment and encouragement. They become empowered by others who are experiencing the same turmoil and have the courage to face this dreaded disease.
Circulo de Vida is a safe place where Latinos with cancer feel heard and their emotions and feelings validated. THANK YOU CIRCULO DE VIDA!

I am a cancer suvivor and for the past 12 years I have had the help of Circulo de Vida, I don't know how my life could have been without the support of other survivors as well as the wonderful staff, I received a lot information to continue with hope and knowledge regarding this terrible illness. Thenk you Circulo for the great support.

As a palliative care social worker for a home care agency in SF, I have used Circulo de Vida as the best resource for counseling and emotional support services for Latino/as who have been diagnosed with cancer. Sad to say but there is no other bilingual-bicultural support of this kind in SF. That's why the services offered by Circulo are so valuable. I have had patients who have told me that the only person they have to talk to as they go through chemotherapy or radiation is the Circulo counselor. Circulo de Vida is an important and greatly needed service to the Latino community in SF.

Circulo de Vida has for many years now done amazing things on a shoestring budget. The organization, under the direction of Dr. Carmen Ortiz, has stayed remarkably clear in purpose and resilient in the face of an always challenging financial environment for non-profits. The staff and vounteers of the center are extraordinarily and unwaveringly dedicated to delivering a unique and life-affirming experience for Latinas with a cancer diagnosis. With thanks for all that you do.

When I first went to work as an oncology social worker at San Francisco General Hospital some 20 years ago, there was no support program for our many Spanish-speaking patients. It soon became clear that the need was great as people spontaneously began to find and support each other while waiting to see their doctor or during their chemo infusions. Not long after that, the first group was formed which eventually became Circulo de Vida. Over the years, I made many many referrals to Circulo, always confident that whether the needs were for practical help or emotional support or both, each patient would find a warm, reassuring, and culturally competent person ready to listen and help in their own language. Circulo's program to train former patients to work as peer counselors for new clients is just one of countless examples of the deep roots they have established in the Spanish-speaking communities of the Bay Area.

Circulo de Vida staff help translate for the patient and physician at the time of diagnosis, offer home and hospital visits during surgery and treatment, provide a wide range of Spanish-language support groups, as well as case management and referral to other programs. It has been an honor and privilege to work for Circulo. The people who walk through our doors fill us with hope by way of their courage during a very difficult time in their lives. There is no other organization quite like Circulo.

The help the Circulo de Vida offers to Latinos who are living with Cancer is invaluable. The organization is unique in that the services it provides are comprehensive, available to all (diagnosed with all types of cancer and their families). If the needs of the patient cannot be met by Circulo de Vida, their staff works very hard to access services from collateral services on behalf of the client, while following the client for as along as necessary.