October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which draws attention to the importance of breast cancer screenings, sharing information about symptoms and risk factors, and lending support to those affected by the disease.
“We have a small community with limited health care resources, so I wanted to bring awareness to our community that UCLA services are available right here in town,” says Guzman of the San Luis Obispo area.
She says since the remodel of her car, which includes a hot pink paint job and UCLA Health decals, with the phrase, “We’re buggin’ YOU to get a mammo,” the car has received positive attention in the community.
“A lot of new people aren’t fully aware of the wide range of comprehensive services we now provide in San Luis Obispo County,” Guzman says of UCLA San Luis Obispo Cancer Care, which opened in 2019. “The car has been a conversation starter. Even when my coworkers and I are shopping at the local grocery store and people see us in our uniforms, they think we commute from Los Angeles, not realizing we’re actually located in San Luis Obispo.”
“When I brought up the idea to Mandy Serrano, our practice manager, and to UCLA Health Cancer Center oncologist Brian DiCarlo, MD, they were super supportive,” Guzman recalls. “In fact, all of our cancer care clinicians and staff were on board from the start.”
The team rallied around Guzman’s idea and helped her make it a reality. Now, she aims to keep her bright and shiny car parked out front for all to see.
UCLA Health’s San Luis Obispo Cancer Care Center provides hematology and medical oncology services to pediatric and adult patients. The center includes innovative and traditional treatments, access to the Simms/Mann-UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology, genetic counseling, groundbreaking cancer clinical trials and an array of ancillary cancer care services.
Other services available at the same location include family medicine, endocrinology, rheumatology and support services. UCLA Health Primary and Specialty Care is also in the same building.
Learn more about UCLA Health San Luis Obispo Cancer Center.
