Celebrating the Bitter and the Sweet: Turning Our Shared Journey into Meaningful Action

For most people, September signals the shift from summer to fall. But for those of us deeply involved in the cancer community, the month carries a significance that's hard to overlook. For me personally, that significance is twofold: September marks both Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

As a Latino survivor of prostate cancer and follicular lymphoma, this month arrives every year with a complex rush of emotion. It holds up a double mirror, reflecting my cancer journey alongside the rich, resilient culture that shaped who I am and how I fight. The clinical chill of treatment rooms. The grinding anxiety of waiting for results. The moments when survival felt uncertain. That is the bitter side of September, a visceral, unavoidable reminder of what was endured.

But over the years, something else has woven itself into this month: a deep and abiding sweetness. That sweetness comes from the purpose, healing, and growth I have found through cancer patient advocacy and communities like ZERO Prostate Cancer.

When I emerged from two cancer diagnoses, I knew I wanted to transform that experience into something larger than myself. That commitment set me on a rigorous path of learning and service. I completed Latino Cancer Patient Advocacy Training, joined cancer patient advocacy organizations, and regularly attended specialized training sessions and webinars. Over time, I have been able to pay that knowledge forward, sharing health advocacy directly with patients who need guidance and support.

That dedication to continuous learning connected me with fellow advocates across cancer types, including organizations like ACE: Advocates for Collaborative Education, where we share best practices in research and policy. And it ultimately opened the door to the front lines of national science and policy. I now have the privilege of serving as a panel advocate with Friends of Cancer Research, sitting at the table where patient voices directly shape cutting-edge clinical progress. That is where the deepest sweetness of my survival lives.

This September, I want to invite you to add your voice to something historic.

ZERO Prostate Cancer has launched the Prostate Cancer BEACON Survey, one of the largest national surveys of people affected by prostate cancer ever conducted in the United States. BEACON stands for Barriers, Education, Awareness, Care, Outcomes, and Needs. ZERO's goal is to hear from 10,000 patients, survivors, caregivers, people at risk, and healthcare professionals across all 50 states. The findings will directly inform research, advocacy, and care, ensuring our community's real experiences reach the people and institutions with the power to change outcomes.

Latino men face a unique set of cultural, linguistic, and systemic barriers when it comes to prostate cancer screening and care. Your voice, your story, is exactly what this survey needs. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey at zerocancer.org/survey. This is one of the most direct ways you can turn your experience into action right now.

When I look at September today, I still see the ribbons of my past battles. But more than that, I see the sprawling network of advocates, researchers, healthcare professionals, and patients I have learned from and fought alongside. I also see the faces of my Latino community, men who deserve early detection, equitable care, and the knowledge that they are not alone. The bitterness of what I endured will always be part of me, but this work of compassion and commitment has transformed that memory into unstoppable fuel.

To my fellow advocates at ZERO: it is okay if this month feels heavy. Advocacy is a beautiful, sacred burden. We use our own scars as a roadmap to break down barriers to survival, push for life-saving policy changes, and ensure no man faces this disease alone.

This September, let us honor both sides of our hearts. Let us remember the struggles that brought us here, and savor the sweetness of our shared purpose. And let us take one concrete step, fill out the BEACON Survey, share it with someone you know, and help ZERO build the most complete picture of prostate cancer in America.

Arnoldo Rodriguez is a dual-cancer survivor, former educator, and dedicated patient advocate. After battling both prostate cancer and lymphoma, he transformed his personal experience into a mission of service. Following a successful career in education, Arnoldo achieved remission through a landmark CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He then pursued formal training in Latino cancer patient advocacy at the national level.