Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Madison resident Shelly Rodriquez was recently diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a suspicious lump during self examination. An ultrasound and mammogram in early December of 2025 confirmed the presence of cancer.
Rodriquez immediately began the arduous task of obtaining further medical care. She had difficulty getting doctor and insurance referrals and eventually attempted being seen at Moffitt Cancer Center. The timeframe for scheduling an appointment wasn’t good, so Rodriquez was fortunate to get an appointment at Mayo Clinic, in Jacksonville, Fla.
She underwent a complete mastectomy on Friday, Jan. 23 and has been recovering nicely since then. Due to the mounting medical bills and lengthy time away from work, Rodriquez has some fundraising going to help ease her family’s financial burden.
She has specifically designed T-shirts available in blue or pink, for $30 each. You can pay in person or via cashapp at $ShellyHolbrook1 or Venmo @MrsSRodriguez. When ordering, please indicate which color and size you want. (XS-4X adult and youth sizes are available).
“Psalm 36:5 is a theme verse for me as I face cancer because remembering God's faithfulness reaches to the skies has been the best way to get through the hard moments,” said Rodriquez.
She is especially grateful for all of the prayers, support and encouragement she has received from her church, family and friends. Her husband, Rob, is a graphic designer who used his talents on the T-shirts. “For the blue shirt, he took my sketch for a design and created it for me on the computer,” said Rodriquez. “So, they're both custom designs created by him.”
After going through this recent ordeal, Rodriquez advises women to be observant about their health. “ Pay attention to your body and any changes that occur,” encourages Rodriquez. “You are your best advocate, and it’s easy for things to go unnoticed.”
Through it all, she has held tightly to her faith. “Knowing God is good, though cancer is not, has been very helpful,” said Rodriquez. “He has been faithful in all situations.”
She will visit her oncologist at the end of February to determine what further treatment is needed.