By Tara A. Spears
The annual La Peñita Breast Cancer Clinic has united women from across the community and the state of Nayarit since 1996. It is about more than getting a new prosthesis and bra; patients return because it is a positive experience underscored with hope and compassion, as the volunteers in cheerful pink share smiles and hugs.
Many of the women travel for hours by bus to receive assistance at this clinic, held the first weekend of February. Thousands of breast cancer survivors have reaped intangible benefits from taking part in the La Peñita Clinic: for that day, each woman can be herself, respected and valued.
A community rallies
There is nothing but praise for this clinic, but sadly, it almost became extinct in 2025. The community rallied, and now, under new leadership, the next chapter has begun. By the midpoint of the 2026 clinic, approximately 350 women had received assistance.
Follow their Facebook page, Jornadas 2026 comité Clínica de cáncer de mama Bahía de Jaltemba, to learn what and how to donate or volunteer.
The new executive committee has lots of talent, enthusiasm, and good knees! It is exciting to know that this wonderful social service will continue for years thanks to its many caring supporters.
Some of the patients, and a few of my neighbors, have asked, “why do you (the volunteers) want to help strangers?” My reply is that we are all the same, sisters of the heart no matter what our age or first language. The Clínica de Cáncer de Mama has developed a high level of trust and acceptance that transcends the language barrier. “It’s a two-way street now,” observed a volunteer. “Before, they (the women clients) were shy and uncertain. Now they kid around and reach out to us just like real sisters do!” What is a truly horrible physical illness has united women of all shapes, sizes, colors and backgrounds — with all of us becoming better people for the experience.
Powered by donations and volunteers
This popular response to a social problem is funded solely by donations and without any paid staff. The transformation of the senior center into an attractive, organized clinic for three days requires the cooperation and year-round efforts of many people. The new management team has already developed several much-needed fundraising initiatives that help make the clinic sustainable. The key task of obtaining donated prostheses from other countries remains a long, challenging process to overcome the customs gauntlet.
For many women in Nayarit, just surviving breast removal surgery is not the conclusion of the ordeal — there is still a huge uphill battle to regain self-esteem and feel like a woman again. Statistics from the Mexican National Institute of Salud Pública indicate that breast cancer mortality has increased in Nayarit. In addition to this sad statistic, there is a lack of after-surgery care provided by the government for lower-socioeconomic individuals without health insurance, which is approximately 60% of the Nayarit population. The Clínica de Cáncer de Mama addresses this real need by providing free medical prostheses, garments, and special bras to breast cancer survivors from our region.
Support beyond surgery
Another important function of the Clínica de Cáncer de Mama Bahía de Jaltemba is providing treatment for post-surgery lymphedema. The constant high humidity here triggers the condition and also deteriorates compression wraps quickly.
In 2017, the clinic added treatment for women affected by secondary lymphedema, chaired by Caroline Maze. Approximately 60% of the Mexican women seen in a recent year were suffering from lymphedema, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Trained volunteers provide appropriate wraps and teach the women how to apply them, and patients are shown physical therapy exercises to help alleviate daily pain.
Thanks to the people behind the clinic
Thank you to the former executive committee that worked so diligently for 15 years. You’ve earned your angel wings, ladies!
Many, many thanks to the new generation of clinic committee members — all of working age — for stepping up with love and enthusiasm. We look forward to seeing what Clínica Cáncer de Mama’s next chapter brings. “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”