Community, Stories Hear more stories of people on the front lines Darlene Mims is the supervisor of cancer services and manages the grant funding program at WellStar and has been on the front lines in the fight against breast cancer for six years. Susan G. Komen® grants have allowed WellStar to provide screening and diagnostic testing for women who are uninsured or cannot afford breast imaging services. As part of our “On the Front Lines” Series with Susan G. Komen, we sat down with Darlene to learn more about how she’s been able to open the doors for underserved women so that they can detect and fight breast cancer. Here’s what she had to say about her work: Question: What makes your facility unique? Answer: We are able to assist the patients that are in our community with funding if they are underserved or underinsured. The tests are rather pricey and if you have no income or you’re not working, or you’re a single mother with four children, you can’t afford [the tests], and [women] were having to make decisions like, “do I put food on the table for my children or do I go and get this exam done?” We’re able to help them get that exam done. Q: Would you mind sharing a story about one one of the patients that you’ve seen and helped? A: [One woman] was in her late 40s and she had young children and she was married, but she was the caregiver of her husband, he had some health issues. And so, she had him at the forefront; she was not really thinking about herself because finances were not good, she couldn’t afford to have the testing done. And she came to us, she looked us up on the Internet and found that we were attached to Susan G. Komen and that we have funds available. And so, within seven days she had had her biopsy and everything done and found out that she had cancer, she went on a trip, came back and then was able to get her services taking care of. Q: Can you tell me about the impact you’re having in your community? A: In the last two years since we’ve been a recipient of the Komen Foundation monies, we’ve been able to catch 16 cancers. These are 16 women who would not have known that they were walking around with cancer had it not been for these services. Q: Where does your passion for this work come from? A: Those 16 women that we found that would not have otherwise knew that they had cancer, they were mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers that might not be here today had it not been for us being able to assist them to get mammograms. At the end of the day, that’s what it is about. Who knows where they would be today if we hadn’t been able to assist them. Hear more stories of people on the front lines << Previous Post Amgen Launches Breakaway Challenge Benefiting... Komen Blog Read More Next Post >> Who’s Your One: Glenn and... Komen Blog Read More Related Stories Previous Next Komen Blog Komen’s 2021-2022 Advocacy Priorities Seek... Read More Komen Blog Tips for Living a Healthy... Read More Komen Blog Breast Cancer, No Longer Your... Read More Komen Blog When Pink is Just Another... Read More Komen Blog The Moment That Changed Everything Read More Komen Blog Experiencing Breast Cancer As a... Read More Komen Blog Jennifer and Angelo Merendino Used... Read More Komen Blog Social Justice Is An Issue... Read More Komen Blog Answering Questions About Soy and... Read More Komen Blog I Might Be At Risk,... Read More Komen Blog Things Early Stage Breast Cancer... Read More Komen Blog Komen Urges Expansion of Family... Read More Komen Blog My Cancer Diary Read More Komen Blog Susan G. Komen Helpline Offers... Read More Komen Blog Komen Scholar, Dr. Bryan Schneider... Read More Komen Blog Take Action on Important Breast... Read More Komen Blog Managing Menopause- Komen Perspectives Read More Komen Blog Social Justice Is An Issue... Read More Komen Blog Komen’s 2021-2022 Advocacy Priorities Seek... Read More Komen Blog Tips for Living a Healthy... Read More Komen Blog Breast Cancer, No Longer Your... Read More Komen Blog When Pink is Just Another... Read More Komen Blog The Moment That Changed Everything Read More Komen Blog Experiencing Breast Cancer As a... Read More Komen Blog Jennifer and Angelo Merendino Used... Read More Komen Blog What Happens Next –Follow-up Care... Read More Komen Blog Kindness Comes Full Circle Read More Komen Blog Drug Shows Promise Against Aggressive... Read More Amanda DeBard Dr. Nadine Tung Discusses Surprising... Read More Komen Blog How Does Your Body Weight... Read More Komen Blog How Susan G. Komen Helped... Read More Komen Blog What to Expect After a... Read More Komen Blog The Breasties Read More JOIN US TODAY! JOIN