‘Community Lives Here’: Modernizing breast healthcare for patients like Sam Campbell
By West Northumberland Independent columnist Jennifer Gilmer
When I met Sam Campbell, I quickly felt her love of the community.
I learned her family and friends would describe her as a tenacious and compassionate social butterfly – a natural connector of people, places and ideas.
Campbell has lived in Northumberland County for more than 27 years and shared with me she has loved every minute. Initially, she commuted full-time to work outside of the community but in 2018, a career change allowed her to start working more from her farm north of Cobourg and ever since, she has embraced the extra time to volunteer for several local organizations, including the NHH Foundation. She reached out to get involved with us after her own care journey, to help ensure the hospital that helped her was able to continue its important work.
With a history of cancer in her family, Campbell was familiar with routine mammography exams, something she had been having yearly at NHH since turning 50. Following an appointment with her family doctor where concerns were identified with one breast, she was referred for an additional mammogram, just six months after her routine scan.
This led to more diagnostic imaging and testing, eventually confirming a diagnosis of both Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) and Paget’s Disease of the breast. Ultimately, Campbell chose a surgical treatment option through a Toronto-based hospital, and thankfully today is in remission.
Campbell described her care team at NHH to me as extremely passionate, sharing she felt the care wrapped around not only her, but her husband as well and the imaging technologists and nurses were exceptional throughout every test and appointment.
“Having a top-quality hospital like NHH so close to home is truly invaluable,” she told me. “The speed at which my diagnostic tests were completed was nothing short of remarkable. Supporting our hospital – whether financially or in other ways – is one of the best investments we can make in our community.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have access to such outstanding care in our region, and it’s up to all of us to help keep that flame glowing. We cannot take NHH for granted.”
Campbell’s story is one of many that demonstrate the impact our hospital has on our community. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is also a fitting reminder of the difference community donations make in ensuring the equipment and technology necessary to care for patients like Campbell is available not if, but when it is needed.
This month and in the months to come, the NHH Foundation is focusing efforts on fundraising to support four key investments to modernize breast health care: A new 3D mammography unit, expanded ultrasound capacity, a replacement bone mineral density scanner, and wire-free breast tissue localization.
These investments will support earlier diagnosis, improved patient comfort and better outcomes for patients and families facing breast cancer in our community. You can learn more via www.nhhfoundation.ca/breasthealth.
Jennifer Gilmer is the director of communications and engagement for the Northumberland Hills Hospital Foundation.
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