A Family’s Fight
A Mother’s Strength, A Son’s Support: An El Paso Family’s Cancer Journey
After facing cancer years earlier, Che Juarez helps support his mother Dolores as she battles the disease
For Dolores Juarez and her son, Che, cancer is not just a diagnosis. It’s a shared experience that has further 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 situation of his own. What began as persistent headaches turned into something far more serious. Doctors discovered a baseball-sized brain tumor, requiring emergency surgery and extensive treatment far from home.
More than a decade later, it was Dolores who received the unexpected call.
After staying consistent with her annual mammograms, she underwent routine screening in October 2025. A follow-up call from her doctor in November brought devastating news: breast cancer.
“I was shocked,” Dolores said. “I said, ‘Oh my God!’”
Because her cancer was caught early — Stage 0 ductal carcinoma in situ — Dolores received timely care in El Paso, including at Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso’s Breast Care Center. She underwent surgery followed by 21 days of radiation therapy, completing treatment at the end of March 2026.
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 — and personally. Having experienced 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.”
That role reversal — a son guiding his mother through a journey he once endured — reflects the closeness they share today. Their strong relationship deepened after Dolores moved in with Che during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It only strengthened our unbreakable bond that much more,” Che said. “We support each other through everything.”
Embracing a special Mother’s Day
As Mother’s Day approaches, both reflect on the past year with gratitude.
“I’m very blessed to be with my son and family,” Dolores said.
For Che, the meaning is just as clear.
“It’s going to be amazing just to be together,” he said.
After everything they have faced — separately and together — that time is something neither takes for granted.
While Dolores received care locally, Che’s experience more than a decade earlier required him to leave El Paso for treatment. That contrast has shaped how both view the future of cancer care in the region.
During Dolores’ treatment, appointments were sometimes spread across multiple locations, requiring coordination between providers and added time, transportation costs, and stress for the family.
“We were going from place to place,” Che said. “It felt disconnected.”
The future Fox Cancer Center will offer one-stop care
That’s why the Fox Cancer Center, now under construction at Texas Tech Health El Paso, holds special meaning for families like theirs. The center will bring multiple aspects of cancer care under one roof, improving access and coordination for patients across the region.
“If everything was in one place, it would make a huge difference,” Che said. “It would make the experience so much better for families.”
For Dolores, the experience also reinforced the importance of routine screenings.
“Going to your exams – that’s what helps,” she said.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women and the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. The American Cancer Society reports that approximately 1 in 8 women will experience a breast cancer diagnosis.
Cancer is often beatable if detected earlier, and breast cancer screenings play a pivotal role in treating and preventing cancer.
Early detection made all the difference in her case — a message her son now shares with others as part of his work as a motivational speaker.
“If those people can do it, then so can I,” Che said, describing the message he hopes others take from their story.
Support Texas Tech Health El Paso’s cancer screening fund
With Texas projected to bear one of the largest cancer burdens in the nation, Texas Tech Health El Paso’s cancer screening fund plays a critical role helping patients access early detection services that can dramatically improve outcomes.
The university’s cancer screening fund helps remove financial barriers for individuals who may otherwise delay or forgo potentially life-saving screenings.
Community members who wish to support cancer screening and early detection can contribute to the cancer screening fund here.
Cancer in El Paso
Each year, nearly 3,500 El Pasoans are diagnosed with cancer, and many families are forced to leave the city for treatment.
The Fox Cancer Center, set to open in 2028, will ensure patients receive world-class care in El Paso, surrounded by the support of their families and community. This vision is made possible through the strength of academic medicine and community hospitals working together. Texas Tech Health El Paso’s partnership with University Medical Center of El Paso reflects a shared commitment to expand access to advanced treatments and comprehensive care close to home.
Currently, many El Pasoans must travel hundreds of miles for treatment, and for those who cannot afford to leave town, access to care remains out of reach.
These statistics represent more than numbers; they reflect families forced to choose between fragmented care at home or leaving their support systems behind. The Fox Cancer Center will end that cycle by bringing early detection, cutting-edge therapies and clinical trials of cancer treatments to El Paso.
Building hope
Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Building Hope Campaign supports construction of the Fox Cancer Center and the university’s mission to expand access to cancer care for families across West Texas and the Borderplex. Donors may fulfill pledges over multiple years, making it possible to create a lasting impact. Every gift, regardless of size, advances lifesaving care, offers hope, and shapes the future of the region’s cancer center.
For more information about joining the campaign, contact Becky Lee at becky.lee@ttuhsc.edu or Craig Holden at craig.holden@ttuhsc.edu.
About the Fox Cancer Center
Now under construction, the Fox Cancer Center will be the first comprehensive cancer center to serve West Texas and our Borderplex region, transforming how we treat cancer for our families, friends and neighbors.
When the center opens its doors in 2028, it will help deliver compassionate, comprehensive care, elevate life-saving research, and bring opportunities for innovative clinical trials – right here, in the community we call home.
Cancer warriors and their families will no longer face the emotional and financial burden of traveling far for treatment because world-class cancer care will be close to home.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated more than 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.