Page 2 - The Fayetteville Press Newspaper October 2025 Edition

Page 2 The Fayetteville Press September/ October 2025 Edition

Dr. Mark Stephen Thompson, D.D.S.

(Family Dentistry)

114 Campus Avenue * Raeford, NC 28376
Digial Marketing
Strategy & Brand Development
Web Design & Development
Print & Media Services (910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
(910) 875-3625
Public Relations &
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
(910) 875-3622
Engagement (910) 875-3622
Kirk Deviere
Owner

Contact Information Dr. Mark Thompson
Sales@219group.com (910) 875-3622

(910) 483-4749/ 219group.com

Express Tax Services
Tax Service

5114 Yadkin Road *Ste 132

Fayetteville, NC 28303

Walter Bell
*Past Due

Income Tax Returns

Up to 10 Years
CANCER CHANGED EVERYTHING (910) 583-9547

Felicia Graham, a resource nurse at Highsmith-Rainey “The journey through fighting cancer has changed my whole
Specialty Hospital, has spent years caring for patients. In July lifestyle,” Graham said. “It changes the way I eat, the way I
2023, she found herself in a new role — the patient. exercise, the way I live my life, the way I spend my time. Getting
back to work was a big thing for me because it gave me the
At 42, she scheduled her first mammogram in late July,
opportunity to take care of people again. Now I have the voice to
thinking it would be nothing more than another box checked
say, ‘Hey, I’ve been the patient. I know what it’s like to be there.’”
on her annual physical. Instead, it became the start of a journey
that would test her strength, faith and resilience. She says the positives she’s gained from such a difficult
experience will stay with her forever.
The mammogram came back abnormal, leading to additional
imaging and a biopsy. At first, doctors diagnosed her with Her care began at Cape Fear Valley Health Pavilion North’s
stage one breast cancer. But magnetic resonance imaging Cancer Center with oncologist Dr. Matthew Carpenco, who
(MRI) revealed something more serious — two tumors, each a oversaw most of her treatment. She also worked closely with
different type of cancer, in separate locations. The cancer had surgeon Dr. Hall, who first explained her stage three diagnosis,
reached her chest wall, elevating her diagnosis to stage three. general surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Sawyer, and plastic surgeon Dr.
Leif Nordberg, who continues to monitor her recovery.
“The difference between stage one and stage three is huge,”
Graham explained. “Stage one is usually smaller tumors that “I absolutely would recommend Cape Fear Valley,” Graham
can be removed with surgery. Stage three can be bigger, more said. “From the very beginning, they were on top of everything.
aggressive and sometimes spread. Mine hadn’t reached my Within 24 hours of my mammogram, I was called back for a
lymph nodes, but because of its size and location, the treatment second look. Days later, I had my biopsy. Dr. Pink made sure
plan had to change.” I had a PET scan, an MRI — everything to cover the ground.
Every single person I encountered was great. They really took
Instead of heading straight into surgery, her care team decided to
care and supported me, both as an employee and as a patient.”
start with chemotherapy to shrink the tumors before operating.
Graham underwent 20 rounds of chemo over six months; four Today, Graham says she feels amazing, physically stronger,
rounds of AC (adriamycin and cyclophosphamide), a common mentally tougher and more determined to live fully. While
chemotherapy regimen; followed by 12 rounds of Taxol, another she still manages some side effects from treatment, she’s found
intravenous (IV) infusion. ways to take care of herself holistically and share what she’s
learned with others.
“It was rough, but I managed,” she said. “I was tired and
weak, but I didn’t have the extreme side effects some people “My biggest thing now is encouraging people to get tested,”
experience. I stayed as positive as I could.” she said. “Breast cancer was not something that ran in my
family. Had I not gone when I did, my story would have been
On March 5, 2024, Graham had a bilateral mastectomy. Initially,
absolutely different. Early detection is the best thing you can do
her surgeons hoped to preserve her nipples, but tissue testing
for yourself. Don’t wait; make the appointment, check yourself
showed traces of cancer remained. For several months, she lived
and take care of yourself. And yes, that goes for men too.”
with the mental weight of knowing her battle wasn’t fully over. In
August, she underwent a second surgery, this time with complete
reconstruction and the relief of hearing she was finally cancer-free.

The experience transformed more than just her health; it
changed her entire outlook on life.
capefearvalley.com

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