Duluth resident Heidy Del Valle, 55, immigrated to the United States from Cuba 20 years ago — unable to speak English or drive a car. She had to start entirely from scratch, but over the years, Heidy built a new life for herself and her family, even while undergoing many significant life changes, including a divorce.
She worked her way up to an assistant manager position at a major retail store, but just as Heidy was about to secure a major promotion — running her own store as a manager — the global COVID-19 pandemic arrived, and Heidy lost her job. For Heidy, losing her job meant more than losing a paycheck. For many Latina women, access to regular health care, especially preventative screenings like mammograms, can depend heavily on employer-provided health insurance.
Without health insurance coverage from her job, Heidy was no longer able to afford her yearly mammogram. When looking in the mirror shortly after losing her job, Heidy saw the same symptoms her mother had faced years before, and she knew something wasn’t right.
“My breast became enlarged, my skin changed color, and my nipple inverted — just like my mother’s did,” Heidy described.
Heidy was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, which progressed to stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She learned she had inflammatory breast cancer — the same aggressive type of breast cancer she had witnessed her mother battle. Inflammatory breast cancer is rare, making up only between 1% to 5% of breast cancer cases.
Heidy’s primary care physician referred her to Northside Hospital, marking the beginning of her journey with a community she soon found to be a source of hope and support. Within her first week as a patient, Heidy met with both her surgeon and oncologist and began treatment.
“The nurse navigator at Northside encouraged me to simply focus on getting through treatment instead of worrying about the cost. She assured me that Northside Hospital would support me and my family,” Heidy stated.
Heidy found that to be true. Northside staff guided Heidy and her family through the financial aid process, easing the burden of treatment expenses. Additionally, under the attentive care of oncologist Dr. I-Wen Chang and breast surgeon Dr. Erica Proctor, Heidy’s experience surpassed her expectations. She recalled how Dr. Chang took the time to thoroughly explain the details of her treatment, while her nurse navigator was personable and patient, always answering questions and being a helpful resource.
“I cannot give you even one example of a negative encounter with anybody at Northside. They all know me by name,” Heidy explained. “That is special, and as a patient, it makes you feel valued and taken care of.”
During her treatment, Heidy connected with other Latina cancer patients. She bonded with one woman, in particular, who was also receiving treatment and did not speak fluent English. Heidy stepped in, translating during appointments. Heidy also noticed that Northside Hospital was supporting this patient by helping her access transportation to and from her appointments, since she did not have a car.
“That showed me that Northside truly cares for people — not just as patients, but as individuals. They will make sure you can get the care you need.”
Their friendship deepened and brought Heidy motivation and meaning during her battle against cancer.
“Being able to relate to someone who is experiencing the same thing gives you encouragement,” she said.
As she went through treatment, Heidy received devastating news: her cancer had spread to her liver and bloodstream.
Overwhelmed and battling depression, Heidy found comfort and renewed hope by joining group activities like yoga and art classes, which she discovered through a Cancer Support Community newsletter.
“It lifted my spirits to be around others who understood what I was going through,” Heidy remembered.
Another resource at Northside Hospital that made a real difference for Heidy and her family was retreats, including an organized trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains, which gave patients and families a chance to relax and recharge at no cost.
“These retreats helped me stay positive. I looked forward to them as motivation to get through my treatments,” she declared.
Still in treatment, Heidy credits her resilience to the support of her loving family, her loving husband David — who has been there every step of the way — and her faith in God, which she said led her to Northside Hospital.
Her husband changed jobs so he could have a flexible schedule for her care, and when she was first diagnosed, Heidy’s daughter took her to every appointment while balancing college and a full-time job. Her sons regularly check on her and research foods to help with chemotherapy side effects.
Stories like Heidy’s reflect the unique challenges many Latina women face when it comes to breast cancer. Latina women are often diagnosed at younger ages and at later stages than others. Within the Latino community, distrust of medical systems and language barriers can make it difficult to access quality care. To combat this, Northside Hospital has partnered with community organizations to provide the best possible support, with Heidy’s experience illustrating the power they can have in reaching patients with cultural sensitivity.
“The most important thing is your health. The fear is in the way of everything you could do to keep yourself alive and well. Everything else you have in your mind must go. And when you are past fear and looking for where to go? Northside Hospital is number one,” explained Heidy.
As for what the future holds for her, Heidy looks forward to seeing her daughter graduate from college and planning trips to Paris and Rome.
Heidy affirmed, “All of these moments within the cancer community and through treatment have helped me understand that I’m living with cancer, not dying from cancer.”
Learn more about breast cancer care at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute.
*The health story shared here is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult with their own physician before making medical decisions.
