595 W Carolina Ave
Varnville, SC 29944
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Sharon Gibson, 50In June of 2022, I went in for my annual mammogram at Hampton Regional Medical Center. There was an abnormal area that required an ultrasound, as well as a biopsy. I was diagnosed with Metaplastic Carcinoma at age 49. To say I was shocked would be an understatement, but my faith in God helped me keep a positive attitude. I knew my future was in God’s hands and all I could do was thank Him for giving me peace. I received chemotherapy and immunotherapy from August to December at Charleston Oncology. In February of 2023, I underwent a mastectomy. The pathology report came back negative, indicating no trace of cancer. I am extremely blessed and thankful for God’s healing upon my life. I believe mammograms are very important to early detection of cancer! I am living proof that Mammograms do save lives! |
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Wanda Morgan, 60I was 59 when I was told that I had breast cancer. The strange part about that was the cancer was not in the breast I suspected. I have been diligent with my self-exams and had my mammograms yearly. About 10 years ago, I had a clip placed in my left breast, which is a tissue marker placed in an area where a biopsy was done. So every time I had my mammogram, I would always have to go back for a follow up. In 2021, when I did my mammogram, I received the notice that I needed to come back for a follow-up. I am sad to say, I did not respond as quickly as I normally would. In fact, I forgot about it. July 2022, while doing my self-exam, I felt a lump in my right breast. Immediately, I contacted my primary care physician. She also noticed the lump and sent me for a mammogram. I did a mammogram and a biopsy, and it was confirmed that it was cancer. Until this very day, I still don’t know how I felt and still feel. Everything started moving so fast with the treatments, I really haven’t had time to process everything.I have completed my chemotherapy and radiation, had my surgery to remove the lymph nodes. Between the chemo and the radiation, I developed an open wound in the area where I had the surgery — most likely caused by the radiation. Now, I am having to do 40 sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. I had a mammogram in July and it was negative. With God’s grace and mercy, all treatments will be completed by October 12th. Prayer, my family, friends, and co-workers have been a tremendous help to me in getting through this process and I cannot thank them enough. My doctors and nurses were with me every step of the way. They would not let me focus on the negative. So, ladies, I encourage you to do your part in protecting yourself by doing your self exams and getting your mammograms. Technology is improving every day and cancer patients are living longer. |
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Camille Welch, 54August 31st 2021 was going to be a busy day for me. I had my yearly 3D mammogram scheduled at 10:30 and afterward I was headed downtown for lunch with my son Lee who was a freshman at College of Charleston. I have always been faithful about my yearly health screenings, and when I scheduled this appointment the receptionist even commented on how good I was about keeping up with them. I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am today I was so rigid about my screenings. I was diagnosed with DCIS ductal carcinoma in situ which is stage zero breast cancer.My mammogram detected my cancer before there was a palpable lump. In fact, when I asked to see my films it looked as if someone had sprinkled sugar on a small area of my right breast. My surgeon said it would have been approximately two years before I would have felt it. One month to the day of hearing “Camille we see something that definitely wasn’t there last year,” I was in surgery undergoing a lumpectomy. Since my cancer was detected at stage zero, I thankfully had no lymph node involvement, and the malignant cells were still contained in the milk duct. I had 21 radiation treatments beginning six weeks after my surgery and I am two years into a five year course of tamoxifen, which is hormone therapy that prevents recurrence. I believe I have been given the opportunity to encourage other women to take care of themselves and to promote yearly mammography and monthly self exams so that potential issues can be detected and addressed at the earliest possible stage. |
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Shelly Stewart, 58March 17, 2023 I went to have my yearly mammogram like I do every year. I thought it would be the same as before, and I would hear, “You are all good! See you next year.”Not this time. Before I knew it, we had to get more x-rays and an ultrasound. All of it was done that day. I remember the doctor and the technician coming in to say they were sorry. I was scheduled to have biopsy the following week then scheduled to see my surgeon. It came back as invasive ductal carcinoma. Surgery was scheduled for a single mastectomy, also removal of five lymph nodes. Lymph nodes were negative for cancer. Thank God. I am currently undergoing chemotherapy at this time. I could not have done this without God, my family and friends. I could not have done it without any of them and their prayers. My husband has been there for me every step of the way. I could not have done it without him and his love and support. Early detection is the answer! So please ladies, take time to have that yearly mammogram. |
These are our permanent back up lines. In the event that you cannot reach Hampton Regional, please try the below lines.
Main Line: 803.903.1920 | Emergency Department: 803.903.1929 | Coastal Plains Primary Care: 803.903.1921 | Coastal Plains Physician Associates: 803-903-1922 | Coastal Plains Outpatient Rehabilitation: 803-903.1923
