‘You have to keep moving’: San Antonio breast cancer survivor helps patients through fitness
Samantha Aguirre is a personal trainer who was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent rounds of aggressive chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and a hysterectomy. She is now now cancer free and offers one-on-one sessions to breast cancer patients in a small gym set up in her home.SAN ANTONIO — When Samantha Aguirre works out, old-school rap pumps her up. She swings 30-foot-long battle ropes until the thick cords roll like waves in the sea. Lunge jumps and squats burn muscles in her legs.
“I never settled for being told that I had cancer,” Aguirre said. “I shared that with my clients. I’m not handicapped, just taking additional treatments to keep on fighting. Don’t give up the things you love to do. Your diagnosis doesn’t mean it’s the end of your life — you have to live like there’s no tomorrow.”In 2018, Aguirre underwent six rounds of aggressive chemotherapy. She had a double mastectomy, 22 rounds of less aggressive chemo, 30 rounds of radiation and a hysterectomy.
Aguirre credits her recovery to her support system. Her husband, Robert, 43, knowing the struggles she was going through, was her shoulder to cry on. Aguirre said he did what had to be done, such as setting the alarm clock for 4 a.m. to tend to her surgical drains.She never showed her daughters, Natalya, 15, Natasha, 14, and Nadya, 8, how the treatments affected her. Any moments when she broke down took place out of sight, behind closed doors.
On Nov. 19, 2019, after completing a year of treatment at Texas Oncology-San Antonio, family and friends cheered as she rang a bronze bell to celebrate the last of her treatments. As Aguirre hugged her supporters, she grasped a certificate that read “Survivor.”