A Survivor’s Story: One Mammogram Caught the Cancer She Couldn’t Feel

10/22/2025

Stephanie Schuckenbrock had no symptoms. She felt healthy, stayed active, and never missed her yearly checkups. For years, scheduling her annual mammogram had simply been part of her routine. But last December, that routine screening turned into a life-saving moment.

“I had done everything right,” Schuckenbrock said. “I did self-exams and made sure to get my annual mammogram even though I felt completely fine.

But just days before Christmas, a mammogram at the DeTar Imaging Center revealed something her self-exams could not. After additional testing, including a biopsy ordered by Dr. Santiago Marroquin, the diagnosis came: estrogen- and progesterone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

“It was a shock I had to sit with during Christmas,” Schuckenbrock said. “But I wasn’t afraid. I knew I had a team I could trust.”

For 19 years, Stephanie has been a champion for her patients at DeTar Healthcare System. As the Director of Orthopedics and Bariatrics, she has been the one helping others return to their normal lives. And when Schuckenbrock needed help getting back to her normal life, she knew her team of physicians and staff members would help her get back to doing the things she loves.

“Through all of this, people tell me I’ve been very positive. I told them, ‘As long as I knew what was going on and I understood it, there was no reason for me to be anxious,’” Schuckenbrock said. In February, Dr. Tanweer H. Majid performed her lumpectomy.

“Dr. Majid kept everything lighthearted—drawing cartoons to explain my treatment while still being honest,” Schuckenbrock said. “He made it easier to process.” Her radiation therapy followed in April at DeTar Cancer Center under the care of Dr. Sara Ashraf and the oncology team. Between her various appointments and treatments, Schuckenbrock was grateful that her care remained local.

“People asked if I was going to Houston, but I thought, ‘Why would I leave home when I can get expert care right here?’” Schuckenbrock said.

Being able to stay in Victoria meant more time with her family—her husband of 19 years, Luke, and their two sons, Gunner and Austin. “The waiting is always the hardest part—waiting for test results, waiting for insurance. But my boys weren’t scared, because I wasn’t. They took their lead from me.”

Her treatment journey also included a preventative hysterectomy in May to reduce future risk.

“Radiation changed my body. I’m still adjusting,” Schuckenbrock said. “But I’m here, and I’m grateful.”

One milestone stood out: signing the pink firetruck belonging to Crossroads Guardians of Hope, a local nonprofit supporting cancer patients and survivors. “It was symbolic, but deeply personal. It made everything real—I was a survivor.” This October, as the world turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Stephanie hopes her story encourages others not to delay their screenings.

Annual Mammograms Save Lives

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is most treatable when detected early. Annual mammograms can identify tumors before symptoms appear, often catching cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages.

“My mammogram saved my life,” Stephanie said. “I didn’t feel a thing. No lumps. No pain. Nothing. If I had waited, my story could have been very different. I hope people see all the pink during October and take it seriously. Get your mammogram. Don’t wait.”

Schedule Your Mammogram Today

DeTar Healthcare System encourages women over 40—or those with a family history of breast cancer—to prioritize their health and schedule an annual mammogram. To book your mammogram today, visit www.detar.com/mammogram or call 361-788-6141. To find a primary care provider, visit www.mydetardoctor.com.

Back