When Nancy Webb received her breast cancer diagnosis at the start of 2025, she didn’t panic. She didn’t freeze. She didn’t even cry. Instead, she asked one simple question: “What do we do now?”
That calm, determined response set the tone for her journey — a path marked by faith, resilience and the support of a compassionate medical team at the UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center.
“I just knew God was walking with me,” said Webb, 63. “I felt at peace. I wasn’t nervous. I knew I was going to be okay.”
When Webb, a retired collections specialist and mother of two adult children, had a routine mammogram a few months earlier in November, it was her first time using UT Health East Texas for screening. She wasn’t expecting anything unusual, even though she had benign cyst in her right breast years earlier
‘You have breast cancer’
But when she returned in early January for a follow-up, the radiologist gave her the news: she had breast cancer.
“I was like, okay—so when can we do the biopsy?” she recalled. “They said they had an opening the next day, and I said, ‘I’ll be there.’”
That proactive mindset, paired with her deep-rooted faith, helped Webb navigate the weeks that followed. Six weeks after her diagnosis, she underwent a lumpectomy. The surgery was successful, with no cancer found in her lymph nodes. She then “rang the bell” after completing 15 sessions of radiation therapy—sooner than originally anticipated.
“I felt lucky,” she said. “Everything moved quickly, and I had great care.”
Webb’s experience is a testament to the importance of early detection and the value of a responsive, patient-centered medical team. From her initial mammogram to her follow-up appointments, she felt supported and informed every step of the way.
“The surgeon got the whole lump out, and the incisions are healing well,” she said. “I go back for a check-up soon, and then another mammogram in six months.”
Improvement in survival rates
Her story is one of many that reflects a broader trend in breast cancer care. Thanks to advances in screening, diagnosis and treatment, survival rates have improved significantly. According to the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer—when the cancer hasn’t spread outside the breast—is now 99%.
- When the disease has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the survival rate is 86%.
- Overall, the five-year survival rate for all stages of breast cancer combined is approximately 91% for women in the United States.
- With more than 4.3 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today, that number is expected to grow to 5.3 million by 2035.
It takes a community
Throughout her treatment, Webb leaned on her children for support and found strength in her quilting community — a group of friends who’ve become like family. In fact, just after finishing radiation, she attended a quilting retreat where her friends surprised her with a “pink party” to celebrate her recovery.
“It was so special,” she said. “Three of the women I quilt with have had breast cancer too.”
Those friendships, along with her faith, helped her face one of her biggest fears. Before her diagnosis, Webb had confided in a friend that breast cancer was the one thing that truly scared her.
“I said, ‘That would scare me to death,’” she recalled. “And then, of course, I found out I had it. But I got through it.”
Her story is one of hope and encouragement for others facing a new diagnosis. She wants women to know that while breast cancer is frightening, it’s also something you can face—and overcome—with the right mindset and support.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she said. “Trust your doctors. Lean on your people. And have faith. That’s what got me through.”
At UT Health East Texas HOPE Cancer Center, stories like Webb’s are a reminder of why compassionate, personalized care matters. The hospital’s oncology team is committed to walking alongside patients from diagnosis through recovery, offering medical expertise and emotional support.
“I felt like I was in good hands the whole time,” she said. “They were kind, thorough, and they moved quickly. I’m so thankful.”
Now, as she looks ahead to her next quilting retreat and her next check-up, Webb is focused on living life fully—and encouraging others to do the same.
“Cancer doesn’t define you,” she said. “It’s just something you go through. And with faith, good friends, and great doctors, you can come out stronger on the other side.”
For more information, visit our website. To make an appointment, call 903-592-6152.