October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and also when the Family Health Partnership Clinic (FHPC), located in Crystal Lake, holds its annual Care4 Breast Cancer 5K Run/Walk. This year, the Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, October 21st at Woodstock North High School in Woodstock. The 5K event raises money for the clinic’s breast fund that assists uninsured and underinsured people in McHenry County who are in need of breast cancer screenings, education, and preventative services. The fund also provides mammograms to breast cancer patients that are currently undergoing treatment, like Mrs. Celia Aguilera.
Mrs. Aguilera came to our Celebremos la Vida program in May of 2017 for her annual clinical breast exam and mammogram. The provider discovered a lump in the patient’s left breast. Unfortunately, the mammogram results confirmed the patient’s biggest fear: invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer. She was taken by surprise as there was no history of breast cancer in her family.
Celia’s road to recovery consisted of undergoing surgery on her left breast followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment. After a full long year of of many obstacles, Mrs. Aguilera is happy that she completed her last chemotherapy infusion in August of this year.
The FHPC Breast Cancer Fund covered the patient’s screening mammogram this year, which she was not able to afford. Mrs. Aguilera states, “I am so thankful for the amazing support the clinic staff provided me during this difficult time. I would have not been able to be where I am today without my family and the Clinic’s generosity. Thank you to all of the race supporters that make this fund possible.”
