{"id":84592,"date":"2025-12-11T22:35:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/84592\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T22:35:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:35:18","slug":"26-year-old-epcc-grad-defies-rare-cancer-in-inspiring-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/84592\/","title":{"rendered":"26-Year-Old EPCC Grad Defies Rare Cancer in Inspiring Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Many college graduates will be crossing the stage and accepting their diplomas this December, but one El Paso Nursing student will be celebrating a lot more than that!<\/p>\n<p>When 26-year-old Malena Mendoza walks the stage at El Paso Community College\u2019s Associate Degree of Nursing Pinning Ceremony this week, she won\u2019t just be receiving a pin. She\u2019ll be celebrating a victory that nearly slipped away.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, Malena noticed unusual swelling in her left leg after a long day of classes. A visit to the ER revealed a deep vein thrombosis and, even more alarming, an 11-centimeter mass pressing against her vein.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE<\/p>\n<p>EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE<\/p>\n<p>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/kisselpaso.com\/el-paso-power-of-pink\/?utm_source=tsmclip&amp;utm_medium=referral\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cancer Survivors Shine Bright at El Paso\u2019s Power of Pink Event<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Nursing Graduate Overcomes Cancer Diagnosis While Completing Degree<\/p>\n<p>On July 7, Malena received the diagnosis no one ever expects at 26: Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Doctors initially advised a full leg amputation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was terrified,\u201d she said. \u201cI kept wondering how I\u2019d finish school. Nursing has been my dream for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Refusing to give up her future, Malena chose to begin chemotherapy just weeks before the fall semester. What followed was a grueling routine of multi-hour chemo sessions, exams, clinical rotations, and the emotional weight of uncertainty. Some weeks, she spent five days straight in treatment, only to return to campus determined to keep moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE<\/p>\n<p>EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE<\/p>\n<p>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/kisselpaso.com\/el-paso-hollywood-spotlight\/?utm_source=tsmclip&amp;utm_medium=referral\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">How an El Paso Athlete\u2019s Journey Made It to Hollywood\u2019s Screen<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It Takes A Village to Keep Hope Alive<\/p>\n<p>Her professors noticed. \u201cMalena is dedicated, brave, and kind,\u201d said Irma Carlos De Ramirez, EPCC Assistant Professor of Nursing. \u201cShe is a true example of resilience and leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Malena credits her instructors, classmates, coworkers, and family for giving her the strength to push through. Now, she\u2019s preparing for surgery after graduation and hopes to pursue a career in the NICU or ICU.<\/p>\n<p>As she crosses the stage this week, one thing is clear: Malena is proof that no matter how tough a situation seems, you are able to overcome that obstacle with hope and determination. A very true Mija, Yes You Can moment for sure!<\/p>\n<p>EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE<\/p>\n<p>EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGEPower of Pink 2025: El Paso Cancer Survivors Shine in Glam Makeover Day<\/p>\n<p class=\"photogallery-credit\">Gallery Credit: El Paso Community College<\/p>\n<p>Meet the El Paso Talent Making Waves in Broadway and Hollywood<\/p>\n<p class=\"photogallery-credit\">Gallery Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Many college graduates will be crossing the stage and accepting their diplomas this December, but one El Paso&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":84593,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[138,140,139,141,142,143,833],"class_list":["post-84592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-el-paso","tag-el-paso","tag-el-paso-headlines","tag-el-paso-news","tag-featured-carousel","tag-include-in-newsletter","tag-local-el-paso","tag-local-texas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84592\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}