Paula's Story

The story of my diagnosis began with Popular Insurance. Through a meeting with them, I was told I needed a mammogram. Unfortunately, the exam wasn't included in the insurance budget, so I had to pay for it myself.

"Unfortunately, the exam wasn't included in the insurance budget, so I had to pay for it myself."

There was a suspicion of cancer, so my doctor recommended that I see Dr. Rodriguez in La Paz. I went through another series of tests — thankfully, I was placed into a program for low-income patients, so it was affordable — and he confirmed that I had cancer.

The cancer had not yet spread throughout the body. I had surgery to remove my breast, and got through without any chemotherapy or radiation; instead, I received a pill that I am required to take for the rest of my life.

I have a 36-year-old daughter, Guadalupe, who was examined at the same time. By good fortune, she isn't sick — but she does know now the importance of being very careful and getting examined every year from now on.

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