Treatment "Nothing Short of Extraordinary"

Barb Lawson has a passion for brightening someone’s day. So when it came down to choosing a hobby, creating floral arrangements was a natural choice.

“Flowers are nature’s way of making our surroundings beautiful,” says Barbara.

While her care-inspired bouquets have helped so many people get through their troubled times, Barbara says she was unprepared for when she was dealt her own personal struggle. Following her yearly mammogram, Barbara learned she had breast cancer.

“Those are some of the most powerful words you will ever hear,” recalls Barbara. “I experienced a gamut of emotions.”
 
But her eternal optimism took over knowing she was in expert hands of the caring doctors and nurses at Springfield Regional Medical Center. And her course of treatment happened very quickly. Less than two weeks after her diagnosis, Springfield surgeon Dr. Joseph Demeter performed a lumpectomy at the hospital, and a few days after that procedure she was prepped to receive an innovative radiation technique called MammoSite. 

MammoSite is for select patients with early stage breast cancer. Utilizing a balloon catheter, which can be externally inserted into the lumpectomy cavity up to six weeks after breast conserving surgery, a radioactive source is placed directly into the cavity. Delivering partial breast irradiation through the MammoSite approach can decrease the number of radiation treatments from being daily for six to seven weeks to twice a day visits for one week.
Barbara began her treatments on a Monday at the Springfield Regional Cancer Center, and her balloon catheter was removed the following Friday.

“It was nothing short of extraordinary,” Barbara says. “In addition to the outstanding imaging and surgical procedures, the doctors, nurses and staff … everyone I came in contact with … were instrumental in inspiring me to look forward with determination and a positive attitude.”

It’s a positive attitude that continues to be carried over into her work. Thanks to early detection and the excellent care she received, Barbara is cancer free and looks forward to creating many floral arrangements, and spreading more sunshine, for years to come.