For Dolores Juarez and her son, Che, cancer is not just a diagnosis, but a shared experience that strengthened their lifelong bond.
“She’s the rock,” Che said. “It’s her example that taught me strength.”
In 2012, years before his mother’s diagnosis, Che faced a life-threatening ordeal of his own. Persistent headaches led to the discovery of a baseball-sized brain tumor, requiring emergency surgery and treatment far from home.
More than a decade later, Dolores received unexpected news of her own.
After keeping up with annual mammograms, she underwent routine screening in October 2025. A follow-up call in November confirmed breast cancer.
“I was shocked,” she said. “I said, ‘Oh my God!’”
Dolores received treatment in El Paso. She underwent surgery followed by 21 days of radiation therapy, completing treatment in March.
Throughout the process, she leaned on her faith, her family and especially her son.
“He kept telling me not to be afraid,” she said. “To stay positive.”
For Che, supporting his mother came naturally. Having gone through cancer himself, he approached her diagnosis with calm and clarity.
“We’re going to get through this,” he told her. “Just take it step by step.”
Their roles had shifted, but their connection remained constant. Living together since the COVID-19 pandemic, they relied on each other throughout the experience.
“It only strengthened our bond,” Che said. “We support each other through everything.”
As Mother’s Day approaches, both say they are focused on gratitude.
“I’m very blessed to be with my son and family,” Dolores said.
Their experiences also highlight broader challenges for Borderplex cancer patients. While Dolores received care locally, Che left El Paso for treatment, a reality many families still face.
During Dolores’ treatment, appointments across multiple locations added time, cost and stress.
“We were going from place to place,” Che said. “It felt disconnected.”
That’s why the Fox Cancer Center, now under construction at Texas Tech Health El Paso, is significant for families like theirs. It will offer cancer care services all under one roof, improving access to care in the West Texas region.
Dolores said her experience reinforced the importance of routine screenings.
“Going to your exams will help you,” she said.
According to national data, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, and early detection remains key.
For Che, the message is simple:
“If I can do it, so can you,” he said about getting screened for cancer and fighting it.
Extra Special Mother’s Day
For the Juarezes, this Mother’s Day carries special meaning. Che encourages others facing cancer to fight with everything they have.
“This is the fight of your life, so do everything you can to make sure that you win,” he said. “For me, spending Mother’s Day with her is going to be amazing.”
Texas Tech Health El Paso, in partnership with University Medical Center of El Paso, is working to improve cancer care access for families across the region. To learn more about the Fox Cancer Center and efforts to expand care close to home, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.
Support Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Cancer Screening Fund
Cancer warriors shouldn’t have to navigate this journey alone. You can help families like the Juarezes by supporting the Texas Tech Health El Paso Cancer Screening Fund. Early detection can mean the difference between a treatable diagnosis and a late-stage one.
The post A mother’s strength, a son’s support: An El Paso family’s cancer journey appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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