Honoring Breast Cancer Awareness: “Every story is unique, every journey matters”
As we close out 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are highlighting our program designed to support those affected by this condition. Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide. In the United States alone, an estimated 317,000 women will be diagnosed this year. The prognosis and medical journey for cancer can be extremely socially isolating, and it affects every member of the family. The grief surrounding this condition is multidimensional: it leads to a loss of normalcy, certainty and potential ideas for the future. Treatment fatigues and emotionally drains caregivers who may need extra support in childcare. At Tu Nidito, families who are experiencing a breast cancer diagnosis, do not have to go through this grief alone.
About half of the families enrolled in our CPC program are due to a caregiver’s diagnosis with Breast Cancer. Each one of them has a unique story, and each story matters.
CPC supports children who have a caregiver with breast cancer
Group nights occur twice a month at Tu Nidito are structured in two parts:
- A guided curricular activity designed by Tu Nidito’s experts
- a self-directed alternative form of expression
A CPC participant shares, “The question that they give to the kids, they also give to us in our group. And it’ll bring things up that we maybe weren’t talking about before. I’ve learned a lot from the facilitators. I found that I was trying to protect her from everything. That was very helpful, very eye-opening for me. Because she needs to be a participant in what’s going on, because it affects her life too.”
In addition to fostering community, the alternative form of expression is critical to meeting children where they are in their grief journey
These forms of expression include:
- getting creative in our Art Room
- roleplaying in our Imagination Room
- letting out more difficult emotions in our Volcano Room
- playing outside on our playground
The child of the earlier mentioned participant says, “When we’re in the art room, I either draw just little sketches or like, there’s also a sand pit in there. And there’s little gems that are really pretty. I like coming here because it’s like my little get away from home; because I trust people here.”
With a child-centered support model, CPC is the only program of its kind in Southern Arizona. We provide it completely free-of-charge to breast cancer patients with a child. Tu Nidito is your place for grief support, and with a caring and welcoming touch, we are here to walk alongside you in your journey.
If you know someone, who needs additional support through their breast cancer journey, make a difference for them by acting today:
- Learn more about our programs or refer yourself to one.
- Join our mission and learn about volunteer opportunities.
- Get grief-informed and find resources.
- Stay connected and sign up for our newsletter
- Donate to help ensure no one grieves alone.
Related Posts
On August 30th, we recognize National Grief Awareness Day, a day dedicated to acknowledging and inviting opportunity to speak openly and honestly about, what [...]
July is Bereaved Parents Awareness Month. It's a time to acknowledge and support parents who have experienced the death of a child and raise [...]
At Tu Nidito, our hearts are with the families and entire community of the Texas Hill Country following the devastating floods that have impacted [...]
