A Fall, A Lump, A Lifeline: How Marlen Has Found Strength and Support in Her Cancer Journey 

Marlen Capote Camacho’s life changed after she fell and broke her shoulder, which caused her to miss a regular mammogram. At 55, the hospice nurse had to recover from her injury and face a cancer diagnosis that tested her strength and hope.

A chance discovery

While doing physical therapy after shoulder surgery, Marlen felt a lump in her left breast. She was worried because she had missed her last mammogram. She scheduled a new one and also got an ultrasound. But she had two big problems: she didn’t have health insurance, and she spoke limited English.

“I felt a rush of nervousness during the ultrasound about the possibility of having breast cancer and what that would mean for me and my family,” Marlen said.

A few days later, her doctor told her she had breast cancer and sent her to a cancer specialist. Marlen was heartbroken, but her doctor comforted her by saying the cancer was found early.

“I was devastated by the news, but my doctor reassured me that they had caught it in time,” said Marlen.

Enduring treatment

Marlen was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2. She had to stop working to focus on getting better. On November 27, 2024, she had surgery to remove the tumor. Because the cancer cells were aggressive, her doctors recommended chemotherapy rather than radiation.

With her family by her side, Marlen started 16 rounds of chemotherapy on January 30, 2025. Her daughter and husband took turns going with her to each treatment.

Cancer was hard emotionally and financially. Marlen couldn’t work and didn’t have insurance. She had trouble paying her medical bills, rent, and car payments. She used credit cards and got help from her family. She felt thankful that the cancer was found early, but also sad about how much her life had changed.

Finding support and resources

Feeling lost, Marlen asked a friend for help. Her friend told her to apply for food stamps and look for cancer support programs. That’s when Marlen found the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center (NCIC), a 24/7 helpline for people with cancer and their families.

Marlen learned about a program called the Non-clinical Patient Navigation Program. It helps Spanish-speaking cancer patients in Texas and Florida with language, technology, and health information. Marlen connected with a bilingual cancer specialist who helped her locate and navigate available resources for financial assistance, food, and medical care.

“I feel so fortunate to have found this resource at a moment in time when I desperately needed help and support,” Marlen said.

Turning experience into advocacy

After undergoing chemotherapy, Marlen is now getting radiation treatment. She also speaks out to help others and encourages everyone to get screened.

“I speak up because I have to, because no one should ever feel as alone and helpless as I once did,” Marlen said. “Now that I know there’s support out there for Spanish-speaking people like me, I feel a deep responsibility to share those resources. If I can spare even one person from the pain I went through, then every conversation, every moment of advocacy is worth it.”