Carmen Alvarez - "No Longer Outside"

Carmen Alvarez Puerto Rico/Chapel Hill, NC

In 2002, Carmen Alvarez lived in Washington, D.C., and held a top position in her field. However, when Carmen received news that her father had cancer, she quit her job and returned home to Puerto Rico to help her mother take care of him. Six weeks after her father’s death, Alvarez’s doctor felt a lump in her breast during a regular check-up.

Alvarez's doctor asked her to get a mammogram, and at the last minute decided that Alvarez should also get a sonomammogram. "And that's what saved my life," Alvarez said.

Although the mammogram did not show abnormalities, the results from the sonomammogram strongly indicated the need for a biopsy. "And when I opened that paper everything went black. There was nothing around me, just that paper that I read over and over in one second," said Carmen.

Alvarez said, "Usually we are so well informed about cancer, about the statistics. You know so much about cancer, but it's outside. When you get that paper, it becomes something that belongs to you. The cancer is no longer outside of you, it is part of you."

Alvarez has a son, Carlos Gonzalez-Alvarez, who lives in Chapel Hill. He asked her to seek a second opinion at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he was working on a research graduate degree in Dr. Blossom Damania's laboratory.

The surgeons at UNC told Alvarez that she needed to decide between a lumpectomy and mastectomy, which is the more invasive surgery of the two. Alvarez said she remembered the look of compassion in her surgeon's eyes, Dr. Nancy DeMore, as she received the choice.

Alvarez said, "One of my friends told me, 'This experience you're going through can be a disaster, a tragedy or a learning experience. And the decision of what it's going to be is up to you.' That was one of the things that helped me get on my feet. I decided to fight this battle, to learn what ever needed to be learned.  So I finally decided for a mastectomy."

Before entering the seven-hour surgery, Alvarez emotionally said goodbye to her breast knowing that it had served its purpose and it was time to let go.  Nevertheless, she felt terrified to see what it would look like.

"When I woke up I saw my reconstructed breast that looked like my own had, and that made me feel so vary happy. And on top of that the surgeon came back and told me that the lymph nodes were not involved. My cancer was concentrated and had not spread so that meant that I didn't need to have any chemotherapy or radiotherapy," Alvarez said.

As Alvarez recovered in her hospital bed on Christmas Eve, her mother sat next to her and crocheted angels for the people who had supported Alvarez. It was Alvarez’s first Christmas without her father, who had been the center of her family’s household even more so during the holiday season.

Alvarez was discharged from the hospital on Christmas day. When she arrived at her son's house and saw the gifts under the tree, her son greeted her and said, "Mom, you need to know that you are our best Christmas present."

Despite a physically painful and slow recovery, Alvarez remained disciplined in therapy and gained the movement of her arm again.

"I had a lot of time to think about my life, to do a lot of introspection and finally I can tell you that today I thank the Lord for my cancer. It made me really understand what’s important in my life."

During her stay at the hospital and the follow- up visits, the quality of care, as well as the compassion and human touch received from medical, support and clerical staff was superior.  This, and the need for Spanish interpreters that Alvarez noticed made her decide on a career change. She accepted a position as an interpreter, even though this would mean taking more than a 50 percent pay cut. Alvarez wanted to give back to the community some of what was given to her. 

"I don't want to live to work, I want a job that will allow me to live, enjoy life and give back," Alvarez said. 

Her son shares her philosophy of a job that involves giving back.  In September 2008, the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center announced that Carlos would be honored as a fellow for excellence in cancer research.

"My suggestion, my advice to women would be: Don't wait until the last moment. I know that a mammogram is terrible, but it is no more than 60-65 seconds. What is 60-65 seconds compared to the joy of living your life, giving back and enjoying your children?" Alvarez said.

"I found love again. I just remarried my ex-husband. My story has a happy ending and I just can't thank the Lord more. That's my life," Alvarez said.