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Cancer Care Coming Closer to Home in Kingwood | Tamara’s Story

Posted Date: 10/24/2023
When Tamara Farling received the devastating news that she had breast cancer, she decided to trust the teams at Mon Health Cancer Center to get her on the road to recovery.

In May of 2022, Tamara had been experiencing months of extreme fatigue. She decided to be seen at the Mon Health Medical Center Emergency Department where she received extensive testing. When the results came back, it showed that she had breast cancer. 

“I went to the ER because I thought I was sick from coming off a blood thinner. I had not been feeling well for six months and I had a lump,” she said.

Shortly after her diagnosis, Dr. Ihtishaam Qazi, Mon Health Oncologist and Hematologist, and Devon Napierkowski, NP, developed a long-term plan for Tamara and started her on infusion therapy. Devon found that Tamara’s cancer would be receptive to Ibrance, a medication that treats breast cancer. She also received several rounds of chemotherapy.

“It’s important when your doctors work with you and get you the faith and hope you need to pull through,” said Tamara. “Devon would sit with me and answer all of my questions, she’s very helpful, patient, kind, and professional.” 

As a native of Preston County, Tamara has been traveling to the Mon Health Cancer Center in Morgantown for her treatments. Thankfully, Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood opened a Comprehensive Chemotherapy Infusion Center in October 2023. This new center allows patients like Tamara to spend less time traveling and more time focusing on healing.

“The staff are wonderful in both Kingwood and Morgantown, but it can be very exhausting traveling to Morgantown when you’re sick and feeling nausea and exhaustion,” she said. “Having cancer care services available in Kingwood will be so great.” 

The new Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital Comprehensive Infusion Center contains two rooms with new equipment, comfortable seating, a nurses’ station, waiting area, 225 square feet of open space for infusion chairs, an observation room, and private bathroom.

After months of working with the Mon Health Cancer Center team to fight her breast cancer, Tamara has been feeling much better. She is feeling stronger, and her hair has started to grow back.

“The addition of the new Infusion Center in Kingwood will be great; our county really needs this. To have something closer to home seeing the people that you already know will mean so much,” Tamara said. 

Tamara is married with two children and is a native of Tunnelton, WV. She enjoys spending time with her kids, crafting, crocheting, art, and the outdoors. 

“It’s been quite a journey, but it’s been a positive and hopeful experience. I cannot say enough about how well I’ve been treated and the extent they’ve gone through to work with me and my treatments to make me feel better.”

At Mon Health Cancer Center, your fight is our fight. To learn more and schedule a 3D mammogram today, visit MonHealth.com/Mammogram. 
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