Local Mother of Two Completes Breast Cancer Treatment
10/8/2025
Monica Gonzalez Saab celebrates milestone by ringing the bell at Laredo Medical Center
When Monica Gonzalez Saab, a 54-year-old mother of two, first heard the words “stage three breast cancer” on July 29, 2024, she wasn’t surprised. For four years, she had quietly sensed something was wrong but avoided getting answers.
Her turning point came on July 27, 2024, when she finally confided in a close friend in the medical field and reached out to her primary care physician. Both urged her not to delay any longer. Two days later, her suspicions were confirmed.
Instead of despair, Gonzalez chose determination.
“It is cancer. Let’s do (the treatment). It has a cure. It’s just a diagnosis and not a death sentence. Let’s fight it,” she recalled.
Her plan of care was led by Dr. Mohsen Ghadimi-Mahani, a hematology oncologist at Laredo Medical Center, who developed an intricate and personalized approach tailored to her diagnosis. The treatment included two rounds–16 sessions in total–of chemotherapy, a mastectomy, 33 sessions of radiation treatment, occupational and massage therapy to prevent lymphedema and immunotherapy. Gonzalez said that the oncologist’s plan was “clear and focused” with constant communication between her and all of the doctors involved in her care.
The year ahead was not easy, and while the treatments tested her strength, the most difficult part was telling her family.
“Having cancer has not been easy, but informing my family was the hardest part, said Gonzalez.
Still, she never walked alone. Family, friends, colleagues, her employer and her care team surrounded her with encouragement.
“The outpouring of love, prayers, support and help has been overwhelming and uplifting,” said Gonzalez.
Last month, Gonzalez reached an important milestone: completing her treatment plan. At Laredo Medical Center’s A.R. Sanchez Cancer Center, she took part in a special tradition — ringing the bell to mark the end of active treatment. While she is not yet in remission, the moment marked a powerful step forward in her journey.
Now, Gonzalez is using her voice to remind others not to wait as she once did.
“My advice is simple. Don’t procrastinate when it comes to mammograms. Listen to your bodies. It’s important to pay attention to the signs and symptoms,” she said.
Gonzalez’s journey is a story of resilience, faith and the power of community — proof that even in the most difficult seasons, hope and healing can be found.
For others facing a diagnosis or seeking preventive care, Laredo Medical Center offers a one-stop cancer center with quality patient care services from detection to treatments; to learn more, call (956) 796-4725. The hospital also offers access to lifesaving screening and other critical women’s health services at Women’s Imaging centers in north and south Laredo; for more information, call (956) 796-2501 or visit www.laredomedical.com/mammogram.
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