ABC-7 anchor Estela Casas returns to the desk
ABC-7 anchor Estela Casas made her return to the anchor desk Wednesday afternoon after weeks of recovery.
Estela was recovering from a double mastectomy that was done in February. It was the next step in her journey to become cancer-free.
Estela had this message for those that have followed her journey, “It’s good to be back on the anchor desk and with you all tonight! I am in awe of our community. You have been so kind and caring with your cards, emails, flowers and most importantly prayers. It is because of my faith, family, friends and community that I have the will stay strong on this journey. There is power in prayer. I am forever grateful and challenged to continue raising awareness about breast cancer. I will continue to help raise money for the Stand With Estela Fund to help women and families on their cancer journey. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Estela was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer in September 2017.
A few weeks later, she announced her diagnosis to viewers saying, “You’ve noticed that I’ve lost weight, I hadn’t felt this good in such a long time. But looks can be deceiving. I have bilateral breast cancer. Tomorrow I begin my cancer journey. I will be administered the first round of chemotherapy.”
The day after Estela made her announcement, she went to the doctors to receive her first round of chemo therapy.
Four months of chemo led to hair loss, weight loss, fatigue and other side-effects. The treatment worked, but she then had to undergo a double mastectomy.
“It is a must that Estela go for surgery. So, we can take this tissue out and examine it under the microscope and confirm that it is much smaller or has disappeared,” said Dr. Panagiotis Valilis, an oncologist.
Just a few weeks after her surgery, Estela said she received a text from her oncologist saying, “no cancer in the breast tissue of the lymph nodes.” She said the update meant the six rounds of chemotherapy she endured worked.
Estela continues physical therapy, but everyone at ABC-7 is glad to have her back. We all missed you.
During Estela’s cancer journey, she created the Stand With Estela Fund in the El Paso Community Foundation to help other women going through this journey.
The Stand With Estela Fund will provides financial support for a variety of things, like transportation to and from their chemotherapy, wigs, compression sleeves, maybe even flowers or a prayer blanket.
