One Woman’s Cancer Fight Reflects the Power of Support During National Cancer Control Month

4/16/2026

Every year, Monique Garcia, patient access/admissions coordinator at DeTar Healthcare System, made sure to schedule her children’s annual doctor visits with their primary care physicians. With three sons and three stepsons to care for, Garcia knows how important yearly check-ups are. But as a mother of six, she was busy and felt fine, so she didn’t see the need to schedule her own annual appointment.

“Early detection and rapid treatment make all the difference,” Sara Ashraf, M.D., an oncologist with DeTar Cancer Center, said. “Preventative routine screenings like mammograms and annual visits with a primary care physician can help detect issues sooner.”

It wasn’t until the end of January last year that Garcia realized feeling fine didn’t necessarily mean she was healthy. During a self-breast exam, she felt a small lump. When the lump began to grow at an alarming pace, Garcia became concerned and immediately made an appointment. The following week, she had a biopsy, and by February 25, she was diagnosed with stage three triple-negative breast cancer and was getting ready to start treatment at DeTar Cancer Center.

“From the time I had my biopsy to my first oncologist visit, a second mass started growing,” Garcia said. “It progressed quickly in a matter of weeks.”

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive form of cancer that grows and spreads faster than other types and is more likely to recur. Garcia began her first round of chemotherapy alongside immunotherapy immediately. Dr. Ashraf worked hand-in-hand with Monique’s oncology surgical team at M.D. Anderson, allowing Garcia to receive care close to home—just steps away from her job—while remaining present for the important moments in her children’s lives.

“Monique is a strong person,” Melissa Montano, Garcia’s older sister, said. “All I needed to do was remind her of that.”

Surrounded by coworkers and family members, Garcia began her fight in March 2025. For three months, every Wednesday, she made the 500-foot walk from her desk in DeTar Hospital Navarro’s Business Office to DeTar’s Cancer Center for her weekly chemotherapy treatments.

“I would come to work Monday and Tuesday and get my labs done. Then on Wednesday, I would have my treatment, go home for the afternoon, and be back at work Thursday and Friday,” Garcia said. “Coming to work gave me a sense of normalcy.”

Throughout treatment, life didn’t slow down. As a mother, her boys still needed her—whether in the audience at orchestra concerts and band performances, on the sidelines at football games, or touring college campuses. With Jaden, 19, and Drake, 18, graduating high school and entering college; Kaden, 16, starting applications; and Carter, 15, Randy, 13, and Brayden, 10, becoming more involved in extracurricular activities, Garcia already had a full plate.

“Your kids don’t stop needing you,” Garcia said. “I’d be in chemo all day and then go straight to a performance or a football game.”

By her side throughout treatment were her older sister Melissa, her parents Eli and Ruby Contreras, her partner Rodney, and her sons.

“When she told us, I didn’t even worry. I gave it to God. I only prayed once because I knew she was going to be healed,” Eli said.

Garcia could count on her coworkers for more than just medical advice. Many women shared personal insights from their own battles with breast cancer. From her first wig to a chemo-ready bag, her coworkers became a pillar of her support system.

“I knew I could always turn to the nursing staff or doctors for advice, but the ladies alongside me in the business office helped me schedule appointments and were there on both the good days and the bad,” Garcia said. “They celebrated each little victory with me and helped me through every setback.”

After her first round of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, follow-up scans in June revealed another mass. She was also diagnosed with the BARD1 gene mutation, a rare condition occurring in less than 2% of breast cancer patients that can double a person’s risk. Her next round of treatment was intensive, administered every three weeks. After completing it, Garcia underwent a full mastectomy in September, along with the removal of lymph nodes from the left side of her chest.

While still awaiting breast reconstruction and a final surgery, Garcia completed immunotherapy on Thursday, April 9. She celebrated the milestone with friends, family, coworkers, Dr. Ashraf, and her care team by ringing the DeTar Cancer Center bell.

“This is an amazing milestone, but I still have a journey ahead of me,” Garcia said. “Throughout this experience, I’ve been surrounded by incredible women who answered my questions and genuinely cared for me. From the nursing staff to Dr. Ashraf to the front desk team, they’ve been with me every step of the way.”

Garcia’s family asks for continued prayers and thanks the community for its support. They hope the same spirit will continue to uplift others battling cancer.

“The staff at DeTar have been amazing and treated us with such kindness throughout this entire journey. We could not have done it without their support,” Eli said. “That’s what a support system is for—to carry you when you can’t—and that’s exactly what they did.”

This month during National Cancer Control Month, stories like Garcia’s highlight the importance of early detection and prevention through routine screenings and annual visits with a primary care physician. When it comes to cancer, time is of the essence.

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