El Paso cancer warrior finds world-class treatment in his hometown, thanks to
Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso
During a visit to the hospital for symptoms of anemia, Juan Francisco Jimenez received an
unexpected and devastating diagnosis: colon cancer. After a battery of tests, his doctors
confirmed the disease had reached Stage 4, spreading to his stomach, liver and lungs.
“At the beginning it was hard. Hearing the diagnosis was rather traumatic,” Jimenez said,
recalling his diagnosis two years ago. “When we hear a doctor say, ‘You have cancer,’ we
automatically think, ‘I’m going to die.’ The type of cancer they were telling me I had can be
deadly.”
Instead of falling into despair, Jimenez leaned on the medical experts, his family and faith.
“I realized that thanks to God there is always hope – hope that I can get better and things will be better,” he said. “The health care providers – and my family – helped me get rid of stress and be more positive. The thing that has given me the greatest hope is knowing I’m in good hands with my Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso doctors.”
Getting treatment here at home in El Paso, close to family and his job, was vital.
“When you have to leave your home and those who support you, it’s hard to get through the
treatments,” Jimenez said. “You feel alone, and it takes more out of you.”
In addition to the emotional toll, Jimenez was concerned about the financial cost of possibly
having to leave town to get treatment. Fortunately, with cancer specialists at Texas Tech
Physicians of El Paso, Jimenez found access to world-class care in his hometown.
Jimenez said the journey from diagnosis through treatment is full of emotional upheaval.
When he heard the words “you have Stage 4 colon cancer, and it has spread to your stomach, liver and intestines,” he felt crushed and robbed of his future. He thought of all the things he still had to do and needed to complete.
However, as his treatment progressed and his doctors saw promising results, he became more hopeful and less stressed. Even after an eight-hour surgery to remove the affected tissue in his stomach, liver and digestive tract, Jimenez said he remained positive, and his faith carried him through. He was also comforted by the quality care he received from his doctors, nurses and staff, and the love from his family.
Today, Jimenez urges all men who feel something is wrong in their bodies to not be afraid or embarrassed, but to go to their doctor and be honest about what they’re feeling.
He’s also grateful to those who donate funds to help people with cancer and all the challenges the disease brings.
“Thank you to all those folks who have a caring heart and bring hope to all of us who are
working through our cancer battle,” said Jimenez.
In El Paso County, the age-adjusted incidence rate of colon and rectum cancer is 4.5 cases per 100,000 in man younger than 50 years old. And of these more than half have late-stage colon and rectum cancer, according to data from the National Cancer Institute.
Texas Tech Health El Paso has several cancer prevention programs to assist our community,
including the Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Known as SuCCCeS, the
program is designed to reduce the rates of colorectal cancer in El Paso County through
screenings and education.
Participants must be 45 to 75 years old, uninsured/underinsured, and must have a Texas
address. Anyone with a past history of colorectal cancer and blood in stool does not qualify.
Colorectal Cancer Key Points
In Texas, colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer death among
males and females, according to the Texas Cancer Registry.
Non-Hispanic Black Texans had the highest colorectal cancer diagnosis rate and death
rate compared to all other race and ethnicity groups. And 64% of Texans diagnosed with
colorectal cancer survived for at least five years past diagnosis from 2012-2018.
YOU CAN HELP
Support from our community partners saves lives through access to critical breast screening
and patient navigation services. Hope begins HERE at Texas Tech Health El Paso, where cancer prevention and support ensure a brighter future for our Borderplex community.
At Texas Tech Health El Paso, we are committed to growing our own health care heroes and changing the state of health care in our Borderplex. For more information about how you can help, please contact andrea.tawney@ttuhsc.edu or craig.holden@ttuhsc.edu or visit ttuhscep.edu/elpaso/ia/giving/.
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