Profiles/Success Stories

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Success Stories

Cancer and Chronic Disease Consortium

Mrs. Jacqueline Brambila is a 33-year-old Hispanic female, housewife, mother of two children ages 11 and 4. She has been a US legal resident since 2003. She noticed a lump in her right breast in the summer of 2007. She went to see her OB/GYN in Cd. Juarez, Mexico who did a biopsy in his office, not ultrasound guided, and told the patient that there was no evidence of cancer. The patient noticed that this lump was getting bigger. Since the patient had no insurance to be treated in the US, and due to her lack of knowledge about the US health care and social service system, she traveled all the was down to see an oncologist in Mexico, who did an ultrasound guided biopsy and found the presence of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Five months after she found the lump, Mrs. Brambila finally initiated her first round of chemotherapy at the ABC Oncology Medical Center in Mexico City. After her first treatment, she got back to the US in November of 2007. The Rio Grande Cancer Foundation referred Mrs. Brambila to us. Unfortunately, she was not a good candidate for the Medical Treatment Act amd at the time of her arrival, funding from Susan G. Komen for the Cure El Paso Affiliate had expired. Mrs. Brambila was advised to seek help at Thomason/Texas Tech UBCC clinic, where she did qualify for a discounted price. There again, she was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer of the right breast as well as clinically involved ten out of ten lymph nodes and she received five additional cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. On April 21, 2008 thanks to the surgery and treatment funding under Komen El Paso grants, she had a right modified radical mastectomy as well as axillary dissection by Dr. Zerbach then was referred for 6 weeks of radiation treatment at Dr. Reed's office, completing her full cycle of care.

El Paso Baptist Clinic

Irene, 53 years old, came to the El Paso Baptist Clinic in May of 2008 to sign up for a free mammogram that was being offered at the clinic thorough funding from Susan G. Komen for the Cure El Paso Affiliate. She was experiencing breast pain after a fall she had sustained a year ago and she wanted to see if everything was okay. Her mammogram was found to be abnormal with an asymmetric density in the right breast which has a spiculated appearance. She was called back to the clinic and referred for a Spot Compression View and ultrasound of the right breast. Again she was able to get these studies done free of charge through funding from Komen El Paso. The result showed an irregular shaped solid mass which the radiologist believed to be highly suspicious for malignancy. He recommended an ultrasound guided core biopsy. The clinic was able to refer the patient for the ultrasound guided core biopsy using funds from Komen El Paso. The biopsy found invasive lobular carcinoma. We then referred her to the Texas Tech Breast Care Clinic for evaluation and care. In July 2008, a wide local excision was performed at Thomason Hospital and pathology showed no metastatic carcinoma in one lymph node. She was then referred to the Oncology Clinic for Chemotherapy evaluation. At the El Paso Cancer Treatment Center, she received radiation therapy and prescribed Tamoxifen. She is doing well and returned to the clinic in April 2009 for her annual mammogram and it was found to be negative.

Rio Grande Cancer Foundation

What a joy to hear women laugh, giggle and have a good time while trying on wigs of different styles, and maybe even a different color than their natural one. Seeing them leave with a smile on their face and resolve to challenge this disease that has interrupted their life. Included in their departure is a bag with additional items such as a wig head, T-pins, shampoo, information and reassurance that they are not alone. Quite often a wig is not the only item needed. Most women are post surgery and just beginning the chemotherapy process, which allows us to offer them the benefit of an EZ SOFTEE® Camisole with poly-fill breast forms. The hospitals are not providing these camisoles upon release after mastectomies and it makes such a difference!

Thank you Komen for your support in this phenomenal program!