SandyCare

Fighting breast cancer & forming lasting friendships

Published on October 26, 2021

Last updated 01:21 PM August 22, 2023

Sandy and Kellie sitting on a bench, and text "SandyCare".

The roots Sandy Kaecher has built in Paulding run deep.

When she moved to Dallas, Georgia over a decade ago, Sandy wanted to make a real difference in her adopted hometown. From countless hours of volunteering to serving on the county commission, she has been a pillar in the community from the beginning.

In 2014, she even attended Wellstar Paulding Medical Center’s groundbreaking ceremony, eager for the area to have easy access to world-class healthcare. However, she never expected to battle breast cancer at the same facility years later.

During her fight, Sandy partnered with an entire team of cancer experts, right here in her beloved community. She also found comfort and strength in a new bond with Wellstar Nurse Navigator Kellie Mitchell, who was by Sandy’s side through her toughest moments.

Every step of her cancer journey, Sandy got unending support from Wellstar—and even a true, lasting friendship, too.

Catching cancer early

In 2018, while Sandy was gearing up to run in the local election as the first female Paulding County Commissioner, she wasn’t aware that her body was already fighting a battle of its own.

Sandy noticed dimpling on one of her breasts, and knew something wasn’t right.

The distinctive dimpling that Sandy experienced is one warning sign women can watch for between their annual mammograms. During a breast self-exam, women can use their eyes and hands to inspect their breasts for new or concerning changes.

Abnormalities may include a new lump, swelling or thickening of the tissue, red or flaky skin, pulling in or pain in the nipple area and change in size or shape of the breasts.

Breast self-exams are an important way women can stay in tune with their bodies. However, at-home checks are not a substitute for getting a mammogram done by an imaging expert. These screenings are crucial to catch what the naked eye can’t see and detect health issues, such as breast cancer, in its early stages.

That’s why Sandy brought her concerns to her primary care physician right away.

It wasn’t long before she was connected with the cancer team at Wellstar Paulding. There, she received a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound to discover what was the underlying cause of the dimpling.

The advanced imaging technology flagged abnormal results. Her care team got an even better picture of what was going on inside her body after a biopsy.

The results were clear: Sandy was dealing with a complex case of breast cancer. Based on the high-tech images, the cancer had woven in and out of the breast tissue, making it more complicated to treat.

With her expert Wellstar cancer team ready to battle beside her, Sandy summoned her fiery spirit and prepared for the fight.

Make sure to see your doctor and get screened. And, if you are diagnosed with cancer, keep fighting and keep going.

- Sandy Kaecher

Wellstar Breast Cancer Survivor

Friends join the battle

A breast surgeon, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist all worked together to create a personalized treatment plan. For Sandy, this included a double mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, chemotherapy treatments and radiation therapy.

From the start, Sandy relied on the power of optimism to help her through the ups and downs.

“After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I had to change my outlook very quickly. I shifted my perspective to stay positive,” Sandy said. “Even when I found out I would be losing both of my breasts, I chose to focus on what I would be gaining instead—like getting my health back.”

Still, balancing surgeries and treatments can be overwhelming. At Wellstar, cancer patients have access to a ready resource to help them through the journey: oncology nurse navigators.

Wellstar oncology nurse navigators (ONN) bring highly personalized care, knowledge and support to each cancer patient and their families. Whether it is understanding a difficult diagnosis, working through treatments or just lending a listening ear, ONNs are there every step of the journey.

Sandy found much-needed help and guidance from Wellstar Oncology Nurse Navigator Kellie Mitchell.

For Kellie, being an oncology nurse navigator is more than a job. It’s her calling.

“I am a patient’s touchstone during a whirlwind of medical care,” Kellie explained. “For patients facing a possible breast cancer diagnosis, I am there from the start. I meet them after they have an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound.”

“If their biopsy results are positive for cancer, I provide education on their diagnosis, emotional support, can help obtain financial assistance and coordinate care with other providers,” Kellie said. “I even see the patients at their doctor’s visits to help decrease their anxiety and voice any concerns.”

From diagnosis to treatment and all the way through recovery, Kellie was there for Sandy through it all. Partnering together, the pair formed a friendship to face cancer with confidence.

An unbreakable bond

Sandy and her Oncology Nurse Navigator, Kellie, built a strong camaraderie as they teamed up to battle breast cancer.

“Kellie never left my side,” Sandy said, recalling her nurse’s unyielding support.

Wellstar understands how critical nurse navigation can be to a patient’s cancer journey, and it made all the difference for Sandy.

“Wellstar Health System provides optimal care in our community,” Kellie said, sharing the importance of her role. “With nurse navigators also in place, it helps smooth transitions, decrease patient worry and improve patient satisfaction.”

Because ONNs specialize and only focus on cancer, Kellie provides the highest level of care possible and is always looking for opportunities to increase her knowledge.

“I go to many seminars and educational opportunities to stay up-to-date with the most current and best practices in oncological care,” Kellie said.

Her dedication to being up-to-date with the latest education and information about cancer care helps her efficiently and effectively guide patients like Sandy throughout the process.

Kellie accompanied Sandy to many of her appointments, including when she was receiving radiation treatment. All the nurses who cared for Sandy left an impression, and always went above and beyond to support her.

“All of my Wellstar nurses were full of joy and energy,” Sandy shared. “If you weren’t happy when you walked in the room, they would make you feel happy by the time you left.”

All the while, Sandy stayed strong and true to her positive nature. Even as she battled breast cancer, she never gave up her dream to help her community.

While being treated, Sandy wanted to remain a contender in the election for the Paulding County Board of Commissioners, and got the OK from her physicians to stay on the ballot.

After the votes came in, Sandy was declared the winner. And, with her Wellstar team by her side, she won her health battle against breast cancer too.

Currently in remission with no signs of the disease returning, Sandy is stepping up and raising awareness about breast cancer.

“Now as a survivor, Sandy has made it her mission to pay it forward,” Kellie said about her friend’s work. “I will always love and admire her for her personal strength.”

“I give back everywhere I can,” Sandy said. “I want to do what I can to help others in the community.”

Her positivity and faith have carried her through tough times throughout her diagnosis. Sandy encouraged others who may be facing a similar situation to always have hope no matter what.

“Make sure to see your doctor and get screened,” Sandy said, urging other women to protect their health. “And, if you are diagnosed with cancer, keep fighting and keep going.”

Moving forward, Sandy will never forget the care and friendship she found at Wellstar.

“Even though I went through one of the hardest situations, I had the best care team in the world alongside me.”

Why the hesitation?

According to Dr. Daniel Fortes, a board-certified thoracic surgeon at Wellstar, the reasons for hesitation may include:

Guilt: “I smoked. If there’s a problem, I caused it.”
A lack of awareness about screening and insurance coverage
Fear that screening will find something abnormal

It's important for current and former smokers age 50 and older to champion their health and stay up to date on lung screenings. When caught early, lung cancer is more treatable and likely curable.

“Wellstar puts our patients at the center of their care,” Dr. Fortes said. “We do everything to minimize patient anxiety and maximize the speed at which they travel through the system, so that we can get them to their treatment as quickly as possible.”

What is lung cancer screening?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women. For many years, most cases were not detected until the disease was already advanced.

That began to change about 20 years ago. Research revealed that screenings with low-dose CT scans were finding cancer earlier, at a stage that is far more treatable. Today, we know that annual low-dose CT screenings for individuals at high risk have been shown to reduce lung cancer deaths by about 20%.

“That was a breakthrough,” Dr. Fortes said. “It was the first time we knew that there was something we could do to decrease the mortality of lung cancer proactively.”

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government agency, added annual lung cancer screenings to its list of recommended screenings. Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans began covering the costs for patients over 50 whose smoking histories put them at risk.

The screening is painless and fast. Sometimes, the CT scan reveals a lung nodule, or a small, round growth. But not all nodules are cancerous. Old infections, scarring or inflammation can cause benign (non-cancerous) nodules. If the scan is abnormal, the patient will be referred to a Wellstar STAT Clinic for Lung Cancer.

Shorter time from diagnosis and treatment

At Wellstar, STAT Clinics (short for Specialty Teams and Treatments) provide dedicated guidance and help shorten the time from diagnosis to treatment. Within the STAT Clinic for Lung Cancer, the multidisciplinary care team may include a surgeon, pulmonologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist and a nurse navigator.

Before a patient visits the STAT Clinic, their team meets to review their scan and develop an initial plan. The patient and their family then meet with the appropriate team members on the same day. Their nurse navigator provides education, support and advocacy from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.

“This takes away a lot of anxiety from patients who are running from one office to another without an answer,” Dr. Fortes said. “They have a defined plan, and we expedite everything. Things happen much faster. Our average is about four to six weeks total from when we first identify a problem to the time a patient receives treatment. That’s compared to four months nationwide—and we’re trying to decrease the time even more.”

Advancements in lung cancer treatment

For patients with early-stage lung cancer, surgery to remove the affected portion of the lung and surrounding lymph nodes is often the center of the treatment plan.

“Many patients with early-stage cancer are candidates for minimally invasive techniques, either by video techniques or robotics,” Dr. Fortes said. “These techniques require small incisions in the chest without much disruption or trauma to the chest wall.”

As a result, patients have less pain after surgery and recover faster. They often leave the hospital after a day or two.

“There have been so many advancements that have changed lung cancer care,” Dr. Fortes said. “When we find lung cancer at the earliest stages and patients have surgery, they have up to an 85% chance of being cured.”

Who should get annual lung cancer screening

If you are 50 or older, currently smoke or smoked in the past, ask your healthcare provider if you should have lung cancer screenings.

The American Lung Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend annual screening for adults 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history. That could mean one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years.

The guidelines apply whether you still smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. You do not need to have symptoms to be screened.

Remember: Finding cancer early, when no symptoms are present, increases your chances of being cured or living longer with lung cancer.

Take the next steps toward screening

Learn more about lung cancer screening at Wellstar.
Call (470) 793-4AIR to learn more about eligibility, financial assistance or to schedule a screening.
Read about a patient whose lung cancer screening results showed cancer in an early stage.
Need a doctor? Find a Wellstar provider and book an appointment.

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Highlights

Genetic Testing: A Critical Tool in Cancer Treatment

It's been over three decades since genetic testing was first introduced as a tool for patients at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes. In its early days, genetic testing was expensive and time-consuming (often taking up to eight weeks for results). Fast forward to today and genetic testing is now a routine part of cancer care. It’s more accessible, comprehensive and, perhaps most importantly, significantly impactful for patients and their families.

Physicians help identify patients who could benefit from genetic testing, especially when someone has a personal or family history of cancer. Genetic testing can improve treatment outcomes, guide preventive care and provide vital information for the patient's family.

Benefits of genetic testing

1. Understanding the cause of cancer

One of the most common questions from patients newly diagnosed with cancer is, "Why did this happen to me?" While many cancers are the result of environmental factors, aging and sporadic mutations, genetic testing can offer a more definitive answer. For patients with hereditary cancer, knowing their cancer is genetically driven can help ease feelings of uncertainty and guilt.

For many, this knowledge brings a sense of empowerment, as they now have the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their treatment and potential preventive measures for the future. This hereditary cancer risk was present since birth, and there was very little if anything the patient could have done differently throughout their life to prevent their diagnosis.

2. Personalized treatment options

For patients with cancers like breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate, identifying genetic mutations (like BRCA mutations) can open the door to personalized therapies. The earlier in the diagnostic process the genetic test is ordered, the quicker the patient can be matched with appropriate treatments.

Knowledge of genetic mutations can also guide surgical decisions. Patients with BRCA-positive breast cancer may be candidates for risk-reducing mastectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy—both of which can lower the risk of future cancers. These decisions are most effective when genetic results are available before surgery.

3. Identification of additional cancer risks

Cancer does not always occur in isolation, especially in patients with hereditary cancer syndromes. For instance, patients with Lynch syndrome, a leading cause of colorectal cancer, are also at increased risk for uterine cancer—up to 60%. If identified before a colon resection, this knowledge could allow a hysterectomy at the same time if necessary, minimizing the risk of a second cancer and optimizing care.

Beyond immediate cancer treatment, genetic testing can also lead to additional screenings that might otherwise be missed. For example, the ATM gene is a known contributor to prostate and breast cancer. But patients with an ATM gene mutation are also at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer. While general population screening is not typically recommended, high-risk patients should begin annual imaging and/or endoscopic ultrasounds as early as age 50 or 10 years before the earliest known pancreatic cancer in their family.

4. Informed decisions for family members

A cancer diagnosis doesn’t only affect the patient—it impacts their entire family. Once a genetic mutation is identified, relatives can undergo testing to assess their own cancer risk and talk to their care teams about screenings.

Testing the affected patient first is the most informative strategy for relatives. Patients with negative genetic test results can be reassured that relatives are not at significant risk for the same diagnosis.

The role of genetic counseling in cancer care

Genetic counselors provide the expertise necessary to interpret complex genetic results, discuss the implications for patients and their families, and offer psychological support throughout the process. Genetic counseling not only helps patients make sense of their genetic test results, but also provides them with the tools to make informed decisions about their health.

Counseling also helps address the emotional and psychological aspects of genetic testing, from potential feelings of anxiety to guilt and even empowerment. Research shows that genetic counseling has a positive impact on patient knowledge, reduces anxiety and can improve overall psychological well-being during a cancer journey.

Learn more about genetic counseling at Wellstar.

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Newsroom

Hardy Family Automotive Pledges $1 Million to Support Expansion and Physician Training at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center

The Hardy family, founders of Hardy Family Automotive, announced a $1 million donation to support the expansion of Wellstar Paulding Medical Center and its new Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency program.

Guided by the message, “We love you and we need you,” the Hardy family has served Paulding County since 1978. That same spirit—neighbors caring for neighbors—is at the heart of care at Wellstar Paulding. The generous donation from the Hardy family will help Wellstar expand access to care close by for people in Paulding County.

“We are incredibly grateful to have a state-of-the-art hospital serving our friends and family right here in the heart of our community,” said Rene Hardy Gordon, dealer principal of Hardy Family Automotive. “The pride that our community feels for Wellstar Paulding is something we deeply share.”

As one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia, Paulding County continues to experience rising demand for healthcare services driven by rapid growth, an aging population and increasing patient acuity. However, the pipeline of healthcare workers nationwide is not growing at the same pace. This investment in the health and well-being of Paulding County will help ensure families have access to the care they need for generations to come.

A $300 million investment in Paulding County

Wellstar Health System is investing more than $300 million to expand the Wellstar Paulding campus, including the construction of a seven-story hospital tower and a 467-space parking deck to improve access for patients and families. 

The first phase of the tower, expected to open November 2027, will add 56 beds—increasing the hospital’s current 112-bed capacity by 50%. The expansion will also enhance heart and vascular care services with an additional cath/procedure lab, 20 dedicated recovery spaces and two procedure rooms for advanced heart imaging such as transesophageal echocardiography. Imaging services will grow as well, with expanded CT, X-ray and nuclear medicine capabilities and two new ultrasound spaces. A second phase planned for fiscal year 2029 will add another 56 beds and additional procedural capacity.

“Paulding County is home to so many families who deserve access to excellent care close to where they live,” said Sharon Robinson, vice president of the Wellstar Foundation. “The Hardy family’s investment helps us grow our physician training programs in a way that supports both today’s patients and the long-term health of this community.” 

Expanding the physician pipeline

In response to physician shortages—particularly in rural areas—Wellstar recently launched a GME residency program at Wellstar Paulding. 

The new program will create 30 physician positions focused on internal medicine with an emphasis on rural primary care. GME programs are one of the most effective strategies for strengthening physician pipelines, as communities that train physicians are more likely to retain them. 

Over the past decade, Wellstar has grown its GME program from 14 trainees in 2016 to nearly 300 today across its teaching hospitals. In partnership with Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia, another 500 physicians are in training at Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center. With the addition of the Wellstar Paulding residency, Wellstar will soon support more than 860 physicians in training statewide. 

The Hardy family’s pledge will help the Wellstar Foundation and community partners raise an additional $3 million to complete the training spaces that will house the Wellstar Paulding residency program in the new tower. 

A hospital growing with its community

Wellstar Paulding employs approximately 1,900 team members and operates one of the busiest emergency departments in the region, with 40 adult and pediatric bays. The hospital has received numerous recognitions for quality and safety, including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, Magnet designation for nursing excellence, a Leapfrog “A” safety rating and a CMS 4-star quality rating. 

In recent years, Wellstar has expanded outpatient access across Paulding County by adding 69 exam rooms at seven practices in Hiram and Dallas, with an additional 46 exam rooms planned over the next three years. 

“Our parents, Charles and Jeannette Hardy, instilled in us the importance of caring for the community that has supported our family for generations,” said Gordon. “As Wellstar Paulding grows with the addition of the new tower and the launch of its GME program, we believe investing in local healthcare is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back.”

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SandyCare