Lourdes Hernandez counts herself blessed to be here and to have the privilege to serve as a “breast cancer volunteer activist.” Over the last 20 years, she has given her heart, soul, wisdom, passion, and thousands of volunteer hours to battling this disease and helping others. Her fervent passion is fueled by her personal experience as a three-time breast cancer survivor, her keen desire that all diagnosed with breast cancer should have the opportunity for timely and effective treatment, and unwavering determination to support medical research to end breast cancer forever.
Her story is an inspirational and poignant example of how early detection truly saves lives. Lourdes was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 when her daughter was four and her son was eight. After months of treatment, she was back balancing being a mother and wife with her thriving law career. Four years later, the unthinkable happened – the breast cancer returned on her chest wall and, once again, Lourdes tackled it head on as she dealt with further surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal treatment. In 2010, she was diagnosed yet a third time and endured another year of chemotherapy, surgeries, and treatment.
Despite multiple diagnoses, Lourdes believes she is fortunate because each diagnosis was made as early as it could have been under the circumstances. Lourdes will tell you that the crucial life-saving nature of early detection compelled her to service as a volunteer and activist for breast cancer awareness.
Lourdes has served tirelessly in leadership roles and positions for Houston’s breast health organizations including the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen serving, among other positions, on its Board of Directors for 6 years and Chair of the 2007 Komen Race for the Cure which achieved all-time high net revenues of nearly $4million; the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas serving as Co-Chair of its first-ever Breast Health Summit in 2005; MD Anderson Cancer Center serving on its Advance Team board for 6 years and 10 years as a member of MD Anderson’s “Pink Ribbon Volunteer” Program (a counseling program she helped found for individuals undergoing treatment); and Pink Ribbons Project, founding board member serving for 8 years. During the last few years Lourdes has focused her volunteer efforts by serving as a “patient advocate” on promising research grant proposals by researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center.