Brenda Joyner Thompson, a former Brunswick resident who now lives in Waynesville
and owns Kidz Kountry Day Care and Learning Center, is a big believer
in annual mammograms. She appreciates the convenience of having mammograms
done on the Southeast Georgia Health System Wellness on Wheels (WOW) mobile
health vehicle in Brantley County at the Brantley Family Medicine Center
because it is close to her work.
In November 2013, her mammogram revealed a suspicious lump. At the same
time, Thompson’s husband had to be hospitalized at Southeast Georgia
Health System Brunswick Campus, so she asked Donna Smith, R.N., CBPN-IC,
nurse navigator at the Breast Care Center, if she could get some of her
procedures taken care of while her husband was in the hospital. Before
she knew it, Smith was leading her to the office of Vincent K. Alauskas,
M.D., board-certified general surgeon, Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Glynn
General & Vascular Surgery, a strategic affiliate of the Health System,
who would perform her biopsy and lumpectomy. “I feel so fortunate.
I really believe that because of my yearly mammograms and early detection,
the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and Dr. Alauskas was able
to get a clear margin when he did the lumpectomy,” she said. “Mrs.
Smith, Dr. Alauskas and his team made me feel comfortable with his diagnosis
and the procedure.”
Thompson then began chemotherapy under the direction of Antonio Moran Jr.,
M.D., board-certified medical oncologist, Southeast Georgia Physician
Associates-Hematology & Oncology, a strategic affiliate of the Health
System. After her initial course of 18 treatments which she completed
in June 2014, Thompson is now on a second series of chemotherapy treatments
aimed at preventing her body from producing the estrogen that feeds her
type of breast cancer. “I have been so lucky throughout my cancer
battle. I have not felt very bad and I have been able to continue working
every day.”
When Thompson lost her hair, she decided to try wearing hats instead of
a wig since she enjoyed wearing hats in the late 60s and early 70s. She
now owns about 20 hats plus many beautiful surgical scarves that were
made for her. Everywhere she goes, she receives compliments on the hats
and how they are color-coordinated with her outfits. The children at her
day care center greet her in the mornings with, ‘Ms. Breena, I love
your hat.’” She commented, “How can that not make you
feel great?”
Thompson was very comfortable coming to Brunswick for her treatments. “We
have been down to Jacksonville in the past for some heart-related procedures
for my husband, but I didn’t feel like I needed to do that. I have
been very happy with the care I received at the Cancer Care Center. I
really liked all my doctors and you couldn’t ask for a better bunch
of ladies, whether it was in the doctor’s office, the breast care
center or the infusion center. Everybody is just fantastic.”