Woman gives voice to Hispanic women coping with breast cancer
in Birmingham, Alabama, has a fresh new voice in the building. That voice belongs to sophomore Christy Barrera, the Hispanic Client Services Intern.
“I knew ever since I was a little girl that I wanted to be in the medical field,” Barrera said. “I wanted to help give back to my Latino communities specifically because I am aware, and I know the language barriers are a thing. And I hope to make a difference one day.”
One day is already here. Barrera works alongside Forge team members like Ana Emaldi, learning how to plan for special events educating the Latino community about breast cancer screenings and services at Forge.
“I really admire what she does. Whenever we have events, she always puts the best of herself. She's such a moral support for all the women that come to forge. especially Hispanic women,” Barrera said. “She's always so energetic, so happy. And I love that about her. She might be feeling low, she might be feeling down, but whenever she's with the women, she puts her 100% out there.”
That level of engagement is needed in central Alabama’s Hispanic community.
While Hispanic women in the U.S. have overall lower rates of breast cancer than other ethnic groups, they often have worse outcomes according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
They are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, later stages of cancer, and are about 30% more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Hispanic women.
All of these are reasons why Barrera is so grateful her own mother, who was diagnosed in 2019, is a survivor.
“At the beginning, obviously it was devastating for the whole family. But right now, she's doing awesome. And I'm happy that I was able to see the whole journey, the whole process, and now she's doing way better.”
Barrera is a biomedical sciences major with a minor in psychology.
The Vestavia Hills graduate hails from Peru. She says her family often talks about how the Hispanic community in central Alabama has really grown in recent years. Even so, when doctors were treating her mother, she noticed something that added a new dimension to her childhood dreams of working in the medical field.
“Whenever I came to the U.S., I noticed the lack of Latino medical providers,” she said. “I want to change that. I want to change what it means to have a higher education. I want to change the face of higher education.”
Her ability to speak both English and Spanish is one of her greatest assets. And so is her mother's experience with breast cancer.
“If it wasn't for my mom, I wouldn't understand what breast cancer survivors have to go through,” she said. “And I really admire every woman that goes through that process, because it is such a tough battle that they must go through.”
She's helping women win their health battles not only at Forge but also as a medical interpreter at UAB’s community health clinic.
Barrera is also a proud member of , a Latina-based sorority.
“And all of them are so inspiring. I love each one of them.”
It's a sisterhood Barrera says keeps her grounded in heritage while also helping her do the important work of uplifting other women at a time when they need it the most.
