CityView Magazine

42 October 2022 Help with mammograms "All aspects of care are considered,'' Dr. Nelson says. "Twice a month, we have a collaborative meeting with everyone involved in cancer care, including other breast surgeons, pathologists, medical and radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons and others. We discuss patients and treatment plans to come up with comprehensive treatment plans for each person." Dr. Nelson says the most important thing is to get a yearly breast exam. McPhail knows that's true. "I'm living proof that early detection is the way to stay alive, absolutely," McPhail says. "anks to finding it early, it is not necessarily a death sentence. ere is hope." Oswalt and McPhail also feel that Erin Champion, the breast patient navigator at Cape Fear Valley, is a dedicated cheerleader in their corner. Oswalt, a retired physical therapist, says her medical training and family history with breast cancer helped her understand her diagnosis. But she knows most women do not have that background and can get overwhelmed quickly. Dr. Nelson says Champion is particularly qualified to help cancer patients because she is also a breast cancer survivor. Champion says the main way loved ones can be there for patients is to show up and to listen. "I never want anyone to feel isolated or alone,'' she says. McPhail says that core support from Cape Fear Valley and her friends at Snyder, as well as her faith, have kept her going. She says friends have offered rides and meals, but it's the prayers, text messages and visits that are most important. "All kinds of prayer, all the time," she says. It is a sisterhood of survivors who help take notes during appointments or who are just a phone call away during a scary time. It is a sisterhood of support. Screening mammograms help provide early detection of breast cancer and lead to better outcomes. A screening mammogram can cost up to $200, but cost should never be a factor in whether a woman gets a mammogram. Thanks to generous community support, Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation provides funding for screening mammograms to patients who do not have insurance. Each year the foundation provides funding for over 200 mammograms at no cost to eligible patients in the communities we serve. To learn how you can support free diagnostic care for those in need, or to learn more about this program, please visit cfvfoundation.org or call 910-615-1285. "I'm living proof that early detection is the way to stay alive, absolutely. Thanks to finding it early, it is not necessarily a death sentence. There is hope."

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