A Breast Cancer Patient: EPISD School Board President Lupita Fuentes
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
On September 2013, Breast Cancer picked the wrong person to go up against. On one certain fateful day in September 2013, Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees President Lupita Fuentes began her two and a half years struggle to survive Breast Cancer, which challenged her beyond imagination but her resiliency and will to survive battled her breast cancer.
Her story began the same day that she heard the dreaded words from her medical doctor, “You have Breast Cancer,” said Fuentes.
“I felt a numbness. I mean, I had all my yearly exams since I turned 40 years old which was no too long ago,” said Fuentes with a jokingly smile.
Fuentes explained that her diagnosis of Breast Cancer in its fourth stage occurred only months after her yearly Mammogram in 2012 had taken place and turned up normal. Later in November 2012, to get a second exam she decided to do a Sonogram, which also turned up normal. Approximately six months later in 2013, she decided to have another exam due to some discomfort, pain, and a change of skin color. This 2013 exam found she had a very aggressive type of breast cancer.
“Somewhere along April of 2013, I just felt something was not normal, something was wrong. Something that was always in the back of my mind was what one of the technicians had told me that I had very dense breast tissue and if so, were the machines taking the mammogram missing something,” said Fuentes.
“One of the things I remember was feeling pain, an uncomfortable sensation from direct sunlight to my skin and body, oversensitivity. I also started seeing a change on the color of my skin, especially on my face, occasional headaches and nausea. I even remember thinking, is this part of the aging process? I guess it’s just part of getting older, the changes, I mean,” thought Fuentes.
“But, in the back of my mind I was thinking, what’s going on is there something wrong?, said Fuentes.
Fuentes followed her instincts and symptoms in deciding to schedule another check-up through a Mammogram and a Guided Ultra Sound on August 28, 2013, and it was this exam which found shed had breast cancer.
Fuentes recalled that when both procedures were performed on her, the attending Nurse told her that the Doctor was going to consult with her, raising concern in her and thoughts that maybe something was wrong.
“At that time, my sister Martha was accompanying me and through instruction of the attending nurse we went to call her in from the waiting room to accompany me as I consulted with the Doctor. When we called out her name and she responded, she began to ask me what’s wrong? Is there something wrong? Just seeing the panic and fear in her face, gave me so much strength, i knew i had to be strong for her” said Fuentes.
Both Fuentes and her sister, Martha, went inside the Doctor’s office to consult with the Doctor regarding the just taken exams.
“It’s not good news,” Fuentes’ Doctor told her.
The Doctor explained to Fuentes the results and how they had done a review of the past examinations and that it had not appeared in the previous exams until now.
Fuentes concern level raised even higher. “The first question I asked the Doctor was “What stage is it on?,” said Fuentes.
“It’s in a stage 3 or 4, a very aggressive type of Cancer. It’s at 9 cm but has spread out throughout the breast,” the Doctor replied to Fuentes.
“It was not there the last time,” the Doctor added.
Fuentes stated that immediately after the moment of the positive diagnosis, one of the first things that ran through her mind was anger, anger at how it could have gotten so far if she had been getting exams on a yearly basis and how could they (Doctors) have missed it.
Fuentes noted that under those dire circumstances she decided to turn her anger at that very instance into strength, a strength to battle and overcome the positive diagnosis.
Fuentes had a Biopsy procedure done and traveled back home to wait for the results.
“Once those results came in on September 3, 2013, I remember I’m at work and get the call and I’m told, I’m very sorry to let you know but it is Breast Cancer. I did break down but I do thank God for my coworkers and family who have always been there for me through everything,” said Fuentes.
Fuentes recalls the very moment after hearing the news of her diagnosis and how she felt numb and then cried out loud while she was comforted by all of her co-workers while the rest of the people in the building could hear her pain.
“I remember thinking about my children and saying I have to live, they still need me,” said Fuentes. She decided to be resilient and battle her breast cancer. She developed a strong will to survive and defeat the cancer.
Fuentes explains that all those factors have driven her and continue to drive her everyday on her journey of survival against the ailment that invaded her body but will not succumb to it.
Fuentes stated after her confirmation of breast cancer, two weeks later she and her entire family traveled to San Antonio where she had once again at her behest underwent a double bilateral Mastectomy under a gut feeling and against the recommendations of the medical surgeon.
“I told the Doctor I want both removed,” said Fuentes.
“I asked the Doctor, if I was your daughter, wife what would you recommend or do.”
“Later on after they had performed the pathology test they notified me that both breasts had come out positive in Cancerous cells,” said Fuentes.
Fuentes proceeded to tackle the next process which was a strong dosage of Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment.
Fuentes recalled how the Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment caused her periods of fatigue, nausea, and illness, but she stuck with it and completed her treatment. One of the hardest part of the treatment was when she first noticed her hair falling off during a shower shortly after her first treatments.
Fuentes stated that it was very hard to have to shave her hair off and that she saw those types of episodes as positive signs that the treatment and medications were working and battling the disease.
Fuentes continued to adapt and adjust through the process never steering away from her decision to fight for her survival and defeating the cancer that had invaded her body.
“I cannot describe how the love, concerns and prayers from the public and community and family have helped me through it all, says Fuentes.
“I take a medication that does have side effects and do suffer from side effects due to the Chemotherapy I went through,” added Fuentes.
Fuentes recalls that she has constant pains and troubles with joint movement especially problems with her knees and swelling of her feet that has gradually ceased but did make it hard for her to walk and move around.
“I remember during a back to school ceremony I had trouble standing up due to pain and remembering how painful it is to get up from just a chair,” said Fuentes with tears in her eyes.
“So I stood up in pain and fighting back the tears and gradually walked up to the microphone and opened up my speech by saying, one day I’ll get my sexy walk back,” said Fuentes with a joyful laugh. “The audience laughed together with me, helping me forget about my pain,” said Fuentes.
“The Doctors tell you, we can tell you, you’re Cancer Free but we cannot tell you you’re a survivor until after 5 years,” said Fuentes. “This is a never ending battle against cancer. One can’t stop taking great care of oneself,” added Fuentes.
Lupita Fuentes continues her five year journey of cancer survival and is scheduled to have a Pet Scan Check on October 6, 2015 and expects to have good news that she still remains cancer free.
“I emphasize the importance of self- checks and yearly Mammograms and to listen to your inner voice when it comes to your body. Have yourself checked, because early detection is the key to survival. I cannot stress enough the importance of testing.” says Fuentes.
“To any person going through what I went through or have loved ones going through it, support, believe, be strong and never let go of the will to survive and listen to your Doctors and what is asked of you,” concluded Fuentes.
Fuentes encourages all women to get yearly mammograms of their breasts as well as do constant self-exams. Early detection is very important for a woman with breast cancer or any other type of cancer. Fuentes stated it is important for women to visit their obi-gyn doctor regularly for the necessary women medical exams.
Fuentes added women should take advantage of all health care programs available in the community to obtain annual mammograms and health check-ups with a doctor of their choice. Fuentes encourages women to either obtain health insurance through their employer, Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), private insurance, or go to local indigent programs available through the United Medical Centers and the Maverick County Hospital District. “Women cannot afford to go without health care and their annual women exams, including mammograms,” said Fuentes.
