When I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, it completely floored me. I had no idea that I had become a host to a ticking time bomb. After the diagnosis, the U.S. cancer system immediately began pushing me down its well-trodden path. We looked to our oncologist for hope, but he quickly scheduled me for a port and four months of the most aggressive chemotherapy available — before even considering surgery to remove the tumor or follow-up radiation. Even then, the outlook was only a 34% chance of success.

Years earlier, a friend of mine had been treated at Oasis of Hope, and after talking with them, I knew I had an alternative. When we arrived in Tijuana and stepped through the hospital doors, I immediately felt peace. The atmosphere was calm and healing. The attention to detail, cleanliness, smiles on the staff, and even the scriptures on the walls felt like a gust of wind in my sails.

Dr. Contreras and his team developed a strategy to remove the fast-growing tumor while strengthening my body’s natural immune system using scientifically advanced therapies. I believed in that approach far more than the aggressive treatment plan offered in the U.S. With a diagnosis as serious as triple-negative breast cancer, confidence in your treatment is essential — and at Oasis of Hope, I finally felt that confidence. It made sense to strengthen my immune system rather than destroy it.

Success came quickly. After surgery and immune therapies, I had a remarkable response. Following three weeks of treatment, we returned home and continued the protocol under close supervision from the Oasis of Hope team. Two small recurrences were addressed immediately, and for the last five years, my PET scans and blood work have shown total remission.

We are truly blessed to have Oasis of Hope as an alternative to conventional chemotherapy and radiation — treatments that often cause additional problems.