Candace Bentley-Connor, a 47-year-old Brunswick resident, vividly remembers
the day in February 2013 when she learned she had breast cancer. It had
only been a few weeks earlier when she had discovered a disturbing change
in one of her breasts. During an appointment with her doctor, he discovered
a lump in her other breast. A mammogram and breast ultrasound confirmed
that she had primary-site cancer in both breasts.
Candace chose T. Wayne Rentz, M.D., board-certified general surgeon, Southeast
Georgia Physician Associates-Brunswick General Surgery, a strategic affiliate
of Southeast Georgia Health System, for her mastectomy. “My mother
was a breast cancer survivor. He performed her mastectomy in 1994, and
I had taken her to some of her doctor appointments, so I already knew
him and was very comfortable with him,” she said.
Along with her husband and her sister who is a nurse, Candace received
a tremendous amount of support during her cancer journey from Dr. Rentz’s
nurse, Paige Miller, R.N., and from Donna Smith, R.N., CBPN-IC, nurse
navigator, Breast Care Center. “Donna was just phenomenal. She made
all my appointments and was with me and my husband in Dr. Rentz’s
office when we received the news. She has such a soothing voice and the
right words that I needed to hear during this very emotional time.”
After her mastectomy, Candace had four rounds of chemotherapy treatments
under the direction of Duane P. Moores, M.D., board-certified medical
oncologist, Southeast Georgia Physician Associates-Hematology & Oncology.
This was followed by radiation therapy under the medical direction of
Timothy Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., board-certified radiation oncologist and
medical director of the Cancer Care Centers, which she finished in September.
“All of the doctors and nurses at the Cancer Care Center are just
wonderful. The team members became my friends and support system, especially
the radiation oncology team, since treatments were every day.”
Candace says she knows others choose to go outside the area for cancer
treatment but she had complete confidence in Southeast Georgia Health
System. “The care I received in Brunswick was top-notch. They treat
aggressively and they do everything they can to make you as comfortable
as possible. I am glad I could get my treatments close to home and not
have to travel in the car for an hour or more each time.”