Houston woman shares message of resilience, patience after recent breast cancer diagnosis
This past September, less than a month before her 32nd birthday, Isabel Almaguer was diagnosed with breast cancer. Now she’s sharing her story of resilience, humor, and community to remind others that even in the hardest moments, there’s still light.
When Isabel Almaguer found out this past September that she had breast cancer, the news hit her harder than a ton of bricks.
“It sucked — big time,” the 32-year-old told KPRC 2 health reporter Haley Hernandez with a dry laugh. “You’re kind of just praying and hoping it’s benign… and then it just goes all downhill from there.”
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Almaguer notes she brought up a small lump to several doctors over the years. But nothing ever came of it, at least until earlier this year, when a new doctor decided to take a closer look.
“It wasn’t that people didn’t take me seriously,” she said. “It’s just… no one acted on it. I don’t want to be angry, but I do sometimes think, ‘What if someone had?’”
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Admittedly, Isabel has seen a pattern of cancer in her family, including relatives who are now in remission. And while she’s grateful for modern medicine, she’s also frustrated by what she sees as continued inequities in healthcare — especially for women of color.
“As a Black and Latina woman, doctors don’t always take us seriously,” she said. “Everything in medicine has been based on white men. It shouldn’t be that way anymore. There’s room for everybody’s story — and everybody’s data — in this system.”
She also worries about what recent federal cuts to medical research could mean for future patients.
“We could be inching closer to saying, ‘Breast cancer is a thing of the past,’” she said. “But without funding, we can’t go further.”
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And after nearly a month of overwhelming emotions since her diagnosis, just days before her birthday, Almaguer got a sliver of hope from her care team at MD Anderson.
“My doctor called me the day before my birthday and said, ‘I’ve got positive news,’” she explained. “They found buildup in my lungs, but it’s inactive. That means I can go through treatment with the goal of remission, not just management.”
Her plan now includes eight rounds of chemotherapy designed to shrink the tumor before surgery. She’ll be on that schedule for about six months, with additional recovery time to follow.
“It’s a long road,” Almaguer admitted. “But at least it’s a road with a plan.”
Fortunately for Almaguer, she’s not going down this road alone.
“I’ve got five people planning to come with me to my first chemo treatment,” she said, smiling. “If they all show up, it’s going to be packed — but that’s a good problem to have."
Almaguer’s colorful hair is fitting for her bubbly personality, where she remains open and unapologetic about her cancer diagnosis, sharing it with her loved ones and even people she’s met through volunteer work. And this is why she’s an advocate for speaking up more about it.
“I wouldn’t recommend anyone keep any type of diagnosis like this to themselves,“ she explained. ”Open up, talk to your family, talk to your friends, tell random strangers, and they’ll be here for you...It’s been really helpful to just speak it and have people around you that care and are there for you."
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Almaguer is also looking forward to the future and making up for travel plans she is forced to miss because of treatment.
“I told my boss, ‘Don’t expect to see me for at least a year after this,’” she said, laughing. “I’ve got a lot of traveling to do.”
Regardless of where the future takes her and the detours that will come about, Almaguer remains grounded in her admirable attitude.
“I hit the ‘Cosmic S*** Lotto,’” she continued. “I didn’t win the good kind, but I’m still here. I’ve got a plan. I’ve got people who love me. And that’s enough for now.”
