Claudette Soto, 44, has a lot to celebrate this Mother's Day after overcoming aggressive breast cancer.
“I conquered my fear. And I, you know, found a new life, a new beginning,” said the CEO of a Chicago construction management company, wife and father of three boys. said Soto, who is also a mother.
Despite having a clean mammogram seven months earlier, Soto was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in April 2023, a diagnosis that surprised even her radiologist.
“He said, Claudette, we think it's cancer. We didn't have any in September so we think it's aggressive and we're very concerned. '' Soto recalled.
Soto felt a lump in her breast about a month after her mammogram in September 2022, but she thought it was nothing because she has dense breasts and it appeared soon after the mammogram. I was thinking.
“I was like, 'Hang on a second.' And I felt like it was continuing and growing at the same time,” Soto said.
When I actually got tested at Rush MD Anderson Cancer Center, I remember sharing the news with my husband and young son.
“I told them, I'm sorry, I think you have cancer. And we're going to start this journey,” Soto said.
“We were scared. We didn't know what to feel. We just felt lost,” said Claudette's eldest son, 8-year-old Ali Barraza.th School year.
Mother's Day 2023 was a blur, and Soto began chemotherapy to shrink the mass and then underwent a double mastectomy.
After a year of grueling treatment, Soto says Mother's Day, May 12, 2024, will be a true celebration.
“I'm here, and that's a victory. I've survived two allergic reactions to chemotherapy. I've survived 16 rounds of chemotherapy, one of the toughest chemo treatments people face. ,” Soto said.
Her surgical oncologist, Dr. Andrea Madrigrano, said Ms. Soto's story shows why women need to be careful about their health.
“I think it's very important to know what your risk is because high-risk women are screened differently than average-risk women,” Madrigrano said. . “We have individualized screening programs to help women understand their risks and their density. Then we come up with a plan tailored to them.”
“There's no perfect time to go to the doctor, but we have to make it a priority. And we also have to advocate for ourselves. If you feel something, say something. Don’t ignore it, act now,” Soto said.
Soto's love for her family fuels her desire to encourage and support other women.
“I know she's a very encouraging message to a lot of women that you can keep going, you can keep your family going, breast cancer is scary but it's manageable. ” Madrigrano said.
“It gave me a new and deeper appreciation for my mother,” Barraza said.
