Breast cancer survivors at the 16th Annual Barbara Montgomery Memorial Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon were recognized with a pink rose and their lives were celebrated during the benediction.

White County Medical Center hosted the 16th Annual Barbara Montgomery Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon as part of national breast cancer awareness month.
Breast cancer survivor Karen Ingle gave her personal story about how cancer has affected her life. Mrs. Ingle was diagnosed with stage three inflammatory breast cancer in February 2000. A week after being diagnosed, she began chemo therapy treatment before undergoing a mastectomy, followed by another four rounds of chemo and six radiation treatments.
“The only thing I remember is the doctor telling me that I had a 50-50 chance of survival,” Mrs. Ingle said. “My husband Dennis and son Chad were with me for support, and after we left, my husband reminded me that the doctor did have positive news, too, and I needed to change my attitude. Right then, I decided to give it to God and prayed that He would be glorified through my experience.”
Mrs. Ingle titled her personal story “Blessings from Breast Cancer,” because despite the difficulties of dealing with cancer, she was also greatly blessed by a very supportive family and friends that showed abounding love and concern. She said that her dear friend Ann Robertson, a school teacher, had her class write notes to her while she was undergoing chemo treatments.
“I am so blessed to have a wonderful and supportive husband. He spoiled me so much and was a great caregiver when I was sick. He kept the laundry done, cooked and cleaned the house,” Mrs. Ingle said.
Cheryl Payne, M.D., radiation oncologist with CARTI, delivered the keynote address in which she discussed medical advances in radiation treatment options available for early stages of breast cancer.
“Breast cancer is the number one cancer diagnosis in women in the United States, excluding skin cancer, and is second only to lung cancer in cancer-related deaths,” Dr. Payne reported. “Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in the number of breast cancer cases diagnosed while the death rate has declined. This suggests that early detection and more effective treatments are beneficial to our patients.”
Stacie McCord, M.D., and Ryan Koch, D.O., with White County Oncology, joined Dr. Payne to discuss the new Cancer Center of Excellence. Dr. McCord said that WCMC is partnering with CARTI, White County Oncology and Radiology Associates, PA (RAPA) to build a comprehensive, cutting-edge cancer center. The center will house a new Breast Center, Imaging Center, radiation therapy, chemo therapy and an appearance center.
“This Cancer Center will be one of only a few such inclusive cancer centers in Arkansas,” Dr. Koch said. “In most places, you have to travel back and forth across town to seek medical care for each step of treatment. This center will house everything under one roof.”
Also, Mark White, M.D., radiologist with RAPA, made the announcement that the Searcy Breast Center has started using digital mammography. Doctors are better able to detect breast cancer by using digital mammography than with film-screen mammography.
Watson Bell, of Searcy, served as the emcee for the luncheon and was joined by his wife Jean Ann, who is a breast cancer survivor of nine and a half years. Mr. Bell is Chairman of the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, as appointed by Gov. Mike Beebe in January of this year. Prior to being named chairman of AWCC, Mr. Bell was a partner at Lightle Law Firm in Searcy.    His commitment to healthcare is demonstrated through his service on the Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation Board in Memphis, Tenn., as well as his board membership on the United Network for Organ Sharing. The Bells are longtime residents of Searcy and have always been active in the community.
Local organizations that sponsored the luncheon include CARTI/Searcy, Family Practice Associates, Lab of Path, Radiology Associates, PA, Regions Bank and White County Medical Center. Additionally, CARTI, Radiology Associates, PA, the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Healthworks of White County Medical Center provided educational materials about breast cancer to those at the luncheon.
Breast cancer survivors in attendance were each given a pink rose donated by Parson’s Wholesale Florist.
For more information, or to show your support in the fight against breast cancer, please contact Alana Pinchback with the White County Medical Foundation at (501) 380-1056.