El Paso breast cancer survivor credits faith, fighting spirit and non-profit’s treatment support

EL PASO, Texas -- When Elin Rios was diagnosed with breast cancer, her life was forever changed, and her faith in God motivated her to keep fighting.

"When they gave me my diagnosis, I had this emptiness that started, and I could not find where to stop, nor did I stop from God, he was my support."

However, her faith and fighting spirit could only do so much; she needed treatment in order to survive. Without insurance, Rios was looking at not being able to have her essential, life saving treatment. A friend's referral turned her to the Cancer and Chronic Disease Consortium, a local non-profit organization.

The Consortium provides low-income patients or patients without insurance with life saving treatment. They also take care of many, if not all of the bills for their patients. For Rios, the Consortium saved her life.

"They helped me to obtain my health insurance, and now I'm not concerned about paying for any medicine. They have helped me a lot to move forward, thanks to the help that they gave me."

Rios has beaten her cancer and joins the millions of other woman who are known as breast cancer survivors. Her advice to anyone struggling with a cancer diagnosis now:

"I would tell all women that we have to fight to move forward. That we shall not let ourselves be defeated by this disease, that we have strength and claws to get out of this disease, that it is possible with the help of God."