My name is Mary Basquez De Los Santos and I am fighting Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  I WILL win this battle with God, my family, and the love surrounding me.

January 18, 2025, I went in for my yearly screening and a week later I received my results--everything was normal.  Then came April 2025 and everything changed.

Each afternoon I walked about 2.5 miles as a team member for Walk Across Texas and one day as I was wiping away sweat, I felt a small lump on the lower, outer part of my left breast.  It didn't hurt so I brushed it off thinking maybe I had bumped myself while being active.  I mentioned it to my mom and kids though they urged me to see a doctor right away, I decided to wait until my upcoming thyroid follow-up appointment. At the appointment, my doctor examined me reassuring it was probably nothing as my mammogram had been clear but ordered an ultrasound just to be safe.

I had the ultrasound a week later and few days after, my primary care called, asking me to come in immediately and not to come alone.  My heart sank.  Then, another call later that day, from a general surgeon as I had been referred for further care.

No would say the words, but deep down, I already knew.

The next day, with my children beside me, my primary doctor came in and told me I had breast cancer.  The type and stage weren't clear as more testing was needed.  The general surgeon ordered a biopsy and a few days later, 7 biopsies were done.  The official diagnosis - Triple Negative Breast Cancer in my left breast.

From there, everything moved quickly.  My surgeon referred me to an oncologist and together we mapped out a treatment plan: chemotherapy, surgery and then radiation.

Step one was having a port placed so I could begin chemo by June 2025; eight rounds completed so far.  I will continue chemo until mid-to-late November 2025, take a 4-week break before surgery in January 2026, begin radiation after surgery and finish treatment by May or June 2026.

My children have been my greatest blessing as they've stood by me at every appointment, every treatment, and every emotional up and down.  Their love and support have carried me through the hardest days.

This journey has not been easy, but I am holding on to faith, family, and positivity and will come out on the other side stronger than ever.

I share my story because it even one person listens to their body, trusts their instincts, and gets checked out sooner, it will have been worth it.