When Stephanie Sanchez,
49, learned she had breast
cancer — lobular carcinoma
to be exact — she
didn’t waste any time feeling
sorry for herself. Instead, she leapt
into action.
“I’ve never really been a self-pity
person,” she said. “Not that I was being
nonchalant about the whole thing, I
just had the mindset of ‘OK, this is my
reality, what do we need to do next?
Just tell me the plan and let’s get to it.’”
However, being uninsured, even landing
on a diagnosis at first felt tricky.
“It was probably around 2020 when
I first found a small knot in my breast
area,” she said. “I didn’t think anything
of it because it was small, and I
thought it was maybe just a cyst.”
Fast forward six months or so and
Sanchez felt the spot again, only this
time it was bigger. Knowing she needed
to get this checked out, she did
her research on the options she had
to have a mammogram done. Sanchez
was able to get one through the UTMB
Mobile Mammography Unit, which,
thanks to a $1.4 million grant from the
Moody Endowment, was unveiled in
2018 as part of the institution’s Mobile
Mammography Program.
Originally launched in 1999, the program
aims to reach women across the
region just like Sanchez who struggle
to know where to turn when something
goes wrong with their health.
Sanchez’s mammogram in November
2020 revealed that she did have a mass,
and, in February of the following year,
she had a biopsy that confirmed it was
cancerous. She was diagnosed with stage
three invasive lobular carcinoma, as well
as metastatic adenocarcinoma, meaning
it had spread into the lymph nodes.
“From there I began the journey to
get all the testing I needed done,” said
Sanchez, who admits being a bit naïve
thinking that once she had the diagnosis
it would be as simple as getting
chemotherapy or having the cancer
removed and that would be that.
Sanchez’s experience was unfortunately
far from that simple; however,
she’s grateful for the people she’s had
helping her throughout the process
that’s included everything from chemotherapy
and a full mastectomy to radiation
and now occupational therapy to
help with stage one lymphedema.
“Along the way, everything has been
explained to me thoroughly,” she said.
“I’ve had a great team of people helping
me throughout this journey.”
Sanchez is not just appreciative of
the health care professionals who have
been there for her during this time;
she’s also thankful for the loved ones —
and even strangers — who have helped
support her in her fight against cancer.
“My family is very close and supportive,”
she said. “My aunts found ways
to support me by having my house
cleaned and helping with laundry,
while others cooked and financially
helped with what they could. We even
had a tamalada — a tamale making
party — to make tamales to sell as part
of a fundraiser to help cover my treatment
expenses.”
The outpouring of generosity was
something Sanchez said she never would
have expected, and she credits it with
helping her keep a positive outlook
throughout every phase of her battle.
“From the way I was feeling day to
day to the immense help I was receiving
from the community around me, I
don’t think my experience has been as
bad as it could have been,” she said.
“Sure, I was sickly some of the time,
but I didn’t let it run me or my days.”
Looking back on all she’s endured in
recent years, Sanchez has learned the
importance not just of positivity, but of
slowing down and really listening to
her body.
“I’ve always been go, go, go. Busy
with home life and work, and I’ve
never taken time to take stock of my
surroundings and my health,” she said.
“I wish I would have listened to my
body a lot sooner.”
As Sanchez nears the end of this
chapter of her life, she expresses so
much gratitude for everyone she’s
encountered at UTMB Health along the
way, including her surgical oncologist
Dr. Colleen Silva.
One of the doctors even took to heart
Sanchez’s feedback that the headrests
available to patients during radiation
treatments were uncomfortable. This
particular physician took Sanchez’s concerns
and worked to get all new headrests
for patients.
Unfortunately, the
new amenities didn’t arrive in time for
her to use them, but it makes her happy
knowing that she’s helping others, even
if only in a small way.
“The whole team from the beginning
to where I’m at now has just been
amazing,” she said. “I don’t know if
you would get that anywhere else.
UTMB Health is undoubtedly my clinic
and hospital of choice.”
Learn more about UTMB Health’s Breast Health program
This feature first ran as a story in the 2023 Think Pink special section of the Daily News. You can view the full publication online or download the PDF .