Riding Through a Journey with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Riding Through a Journey with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

In November 2024, Marcela Tinka was feeding Mister, a horse, on the Santa Ynez Valley ranch where she lives and works.  As she held the hay out from her hand, the steed pushed his nose hard into her chest in a way that seemed different from his friendly nudges.  She...
Caring For Others While Fulfilling a Dream

Caring For Others While Fulfilling a Dream

Medical Assistant Linh Tran’s Journey from Vietnam to the Frontlines of Healthcare   When medical assistant Linh Tran greets patients, she can relate to the nervousness that comes when there’s a language barrier. “I always smile when I check in with them. I ask if...
Robotic Surgery Delivers for Retired Mailman

Robotic Surgery Delivers for Retired Mailman

Steven Mendoza, a veteran postal worker, crossed countless Santa Barbara neighborhoods every day for more than 30 years.   Now retired, the 77-year-old grandfather was not about to let prostate cancer slow him down.  He understood the importance of screening and early...
New Therapy for Ovarian Cancer Expands Treatment Options

New Therapy for Ovarian Cancer Expands Treatment Options

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month  By Nicole Young, Vitals contributor  A rare, slow-growing type of ovarian cancer called LGSOC (low-grade serous ovarian cancer) disproportionately affects women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.  Research conducted on the Central...
High-Risk Breast Clinic Launches on the Central Coast

High-Risk Breast Clinic Launches on the Central Coast

Program Offers Women a Personalized Approach to Breast Cancer Prevention & Treatment  By Nicole Young, Vitals contributor  Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, now part of Sutter Health, is launching a High-Risk Breast Clinic that will monitor women at elevated risk for...