Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010 - (Page 8)

needed help from the family. “It’s important to get the chilIn March, Gordon removed the tumor during a procedure dren involved in their mom’s care,” Gwyn explains. “They called a lumpectomy and also performed a sentinel node know they’re doing something to help her, and that makes biopsy. While Kim was still in surgery, the biopsy was taken to them feel good.” the hospital’s pathologist, who confirmed that the cancer had Besides being an ongoing support system for Kim and her spread to her lymph nodes. Gordon continued the surgery family, Gwyn provided Kim and her husband with a breast and performed an axillary dissection. Gordon notes that Kim book to help them through their process. Kim says that had done everything right. “It’s an aggressive form of cancer, reading the literature helped them learn to cope, communiand it had advanced to stage 4 so quickly,” he says. cate, support each other and, most importantly, understand Chemotherapy and radiation were next for Kim. She was that it is OK to express how they feel. Kim appreciates the referred to board-certified oncologist Kaushik Sen, MD, who Kaushik Sen, MD, personal support Gwyn provided her. “I just love Gwyn,” she led her course of treatment over the next few months. “Kim Oncology, board certified says. “She’d call me to check on me, and when I wasn’t feelhas an amazing spirit,” Sen says. “And what’s really unique ing well enough to answer the phone, she’d spend time talking with my about her case is that the things that are happening to her don’t usually mom to make sure she was OK, too. Knowing she was there for all of us— happen like this—to someone of her age.” that helped a lot.” Sen also determined that Kim carries the breast cancer gene. Kim and Kim’s extended families from church and the school where she works as her husband of 12 years, Delshawn, have two sons, 7-year-old LoRell and assistant principal have shown overwhelming support for her and her fam4-year-old Dorien. And while she always wanted a baby girl, Kim understands the blessing of her circumstances because she now knows her daugh- ily. “They’ve offered prayers and food,” Kim says. “They’ve taken the boys out so I could spend time with my husband. The students raised money to ter would have carried the breast cancer gene. Even though breast cancer donate to cancer, and the school assembled a team to walk at Relay for Life. is less common in males, her sons may still be at risk for breast cancer, and I can’t say how much this has meant to me. I had no idea how many people they are carriers of the gene. this would touch.” The community’s generosity along with Kim’s intrinsic need to help others inspired her to start the K. McLean Breast Cancer Helping Hands Awareness Foundation to educate all women about breast cancer, especially Months of chemotherapy were draining and exhausting for Kim. She had a African-Americans who have a lower survival rate for breast cancer. hard time doing daily chores. Getting dressed for a 7 a.m. doctor’s appointment began at 3 a.m. because she would tire so quickly. Her mother and mother-in-law stepped in to help with laundry during the rough times. Her Prepared for the Storm husband did the cooking and got the boys ready for school, and her young Much has happened since Kim’s journey began in February. But if you sons also had a part in helping their mom. ask Kim, she will tell you her journey actually began in November—three While visiting the hospital one day, Kim mentioned to Gwyn Sandlin, months before she discovered the lump. She had been waking up around RN, the hospital’s breast health navigator, that she wasn’t sure how to show 3 a.m. every day. She couldn’t sleep, so she used that time to pray and jourher kids how to help her. Gwyn gave her a small hand bell to ring when she nal. “I’m a very spiritual person,” Kim says. “I knew that the Holy Spirit BREAST IMAGING RADIOLOGIST JOINS CCH I wanted to be a part of their continuum of care and see them Travis Henderson, MD, board-certified radiologist, joined Central through their procedures from the moment we discover a concern Carolina Hospital this summer. Fellowship-trained in breast imaging until we have completed our care.” at the UNC School of Medicine Department of Radiology mammogOne goal of the program is to help physicians understand which raphy unit, Henderson underwent an additional year of extensive imaging tools are appropriate for the specific diagnotraining to study breast cancer imaging procedures. sis. “In order to gain an accurate diagnosis, we focus During the 12-month program, radiologists particion efficiency. We select the least invasive procepate in weekly multidisciplinary conferences and dures that will give us the most accurate diagnosis,” interact with oncologists, breast surgeons and other Henderson says. care providers on a daily basis. This helps them underCherie Kuzmiak, DO, associate professor of radistand the clinical approach to breast care, but since ology at the UNC School of Medicine, explains the the program also allows the physicians to follow the intensity of the program. “The clinic performs over patients’ courses of treatment, they become involved 100 procedures a day and about 15 biopsies each on a personal level as well. day—everything from MRI scans to biopsies, fine “In the field of general radiology, radiologists don’t needle aspirations, stereotactic breast biopsies and have practices where they see patients on a daily ultrasound core. Many of these patients are positive basis,” Henderson explains. “I chose the breast imagfor breast cancer, so these physicians get a very coning fellowship because I wanted to have that day-toTravis Henderson, MD, Radiology, board certified centrated exposure to breast cancer patients.” day patient interaction—that connection with patients. 8 | FA L L 2 0 1 0

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010

Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010
Contents
Health Beat
Journey of Hope
Treats Not Tricks
Surgery Snapshot
Heart Smart
Q+A

Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2010