At 77, Linda Garrett had never experienced any health issues.
Linda and her husband, a firefighter, moved and retired to North Padre Island near Corpus Christi. She also did not miss her scheduled health screenings, including her annual mammogram.
But in October of 2023, a routine mammogram revealed something unexpected.
“I’ve never had any problems in my 77 years,” Linda recalled. “But after that mammogram, they called me the next day and said, ‘We need to do further tests.’”
Linda wasn’t too worried at first.
She had no family history of breast cancer and had been diligent about her health for decades. But she knew it was serious when her CHRISTUS Health doctor called her on a Friday night — not waiting until Monday.
“My doctor didn’t even wait until the following week to call me,” Linda said. “That Friday night, he called and said, ‘You have breast cancer.’”
The news was shocking, but Linda and her husband faced it with a sense of calm and focus.
“My husband’s a firefighter — he never panics,” Linda said. “We sat down and said, ‘Okay, what’s next?’”
Linda’s care team at CHRISTUS Health didn’t waste any time.
“On Monday, I talked to my doctor,” she said. “By Tuesday, I was meeting with a surgeon.”
Her surgeon, Matthew Ficenec, MD, general surgeon at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic in Corpus Christi, knew the importance of acting quickly.
“He said, ‘What are you doing Friday?’” Linda laughed. “I told him, ‘Well, I guess I’m coming in for surgery.’”
That Friday, Linda underwent surgery to remove the cancerous tissue. The procedure went well, and follow-up tests confirmed that it was stage one breast cancer — a highly treatable stage.
“They called me and said it all looks good,” Linda said. “I was so relieved.”
After surgery, Linda’s doctor referred her to Chandra Sanwal, DO, an oncologist at CHRISTUS Health's cancer center in Corpus Christi. He developed a comprehensive care plan that included a course of radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Linda was faced with a decision: should she travel to MD Anderson in Houston — known for its world-class cancer treatment — or stay in Corpus Christi for her care?
“A lot of people told me I needed to go to Houston,” Linda said. “But I didn’t feel like I needed to. I was so confident in the care I was getting here at CHRISTUS.”
Linda started a six-week course of daily radiation therapy at CHRISTUS Health.
“The radiation team was wonderful,” Linda said. “They were never late, always kind, and very gentle. Everything they told me about side effects was true — I didn’t feel overly tired, and it all went very smoothly.”
Her treatment plan also included taking hormones for five years and receiving infusions twice a year to help prevent the cancer from returning.
“There are side effects, of course,” Linda admitted. “But it’s manageable — and I’m so thankful to be cancer-free.”
Throughout her treatment, Linda found comfort in an unexpected source — her Tula Blue bracelets.
“Tula Blue is a brand of rope bracelets made by a woman here in Corpus,” Linda said. “You can wear them in the ocean, and they don’t get damaged. When I went in for radiation, I had to take off all my jewelry — but they told me I could keep my Tula Blue bracelets on.”
Linda hasn’t taken them off since.
“They’ve become my good luck charm,” she said. “They’ve been with me through this whole journey.”
Linda believes the speed and quality of her care made all the difference.
“I’ve talked to people who had to wait months for appointments,” Linda said. “I never had that issue. Everything happened almost immediately, and that made all the difference.”
She knows that if she had delayed treatment or had to wait for appointments, her outcome might have been very different.
“Once you get over the initial fear, you have to take action,” Linda said. “Waiting isn’t the right way to handle it — at least not for me. Taking action gave me peace of mind.”
The decision to stay close to home for treatment also made her recovery smoother.
“If I had gone to Houston, that would have been a lot of driving,” Linda said. “Maybe if it had been stage three or four, I would have considered it. But at stage one, I knew I was in good hands here in Corpus.”
Today, Linda is back to doing the things she loves — walking on the beach, spending time with her husband, and enjoying life on North Padre Island.
“I’m doing everything I was doing before,” Linda said. “I feel so fortunate that everything was handled quickly and professionally.”
Linda remains diligent about her health and encourages others to stay on top of their screenings.
“I’ve always kept up with my mammograms,” she said. “There was no history of breast cancer in my family, so this was a surprise. But early detection saved my life.”
Looking out over the water from her deck, Linda reflects on how grateful she is for the care she received.
“I’m thankful every day,” she said. “I’m grateful to CHRISTUS for the care I received, and I hope my story encourages others to take action and trust the care they can get close to home.”
Breast cancer is highly treatable when caught early. If you’ve been putting off your mammogram, don’t wait. Early detection could save your life — and CHRISTUS Health is here to provide expert, compassionate care every step of the way. Schedule your mammogram today.
Request a mammogram or complete a breast cancer questionnaire to receive a report with your breast cancer risk factors and tips on reducing those risks.
A mammogram takes only minutes and offers years of peace of mind. Regular screenings can save lives by detecting breast cancer early when it's most treatable.
