Living beyond the troubles of life can be difficult, but never impossible. Carlos Alejandro Lujan, author of “El Cancer No Detiene Mi Rugir: Cancer Can’t Stop Me Roar,” is one of 18.1 million who have survived their fight against cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Lujan moved to El Paso from Chihuahua, Mexico at 19–years–old to attend UTEP, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in marketing and business administration. While handling personal hardships with relationships and continuing his education, Lujan was diagnosed with cancer at 26 while living in Boston.