Breast Cancer Survivor Finds Hope in Specialized Care Close to Home

In September 2023, Stacey McCulloch was busy on her cattle farm when she felt soreness in her chest while handling equipment. She assumed it would pass, but the discomfort worsened. After finding a lump, she scheduled a mammogram at OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center. A biopsy performed the same day soon confirmed her fears: triple-negative breast cancer.

Stacey received the life-altering call from her surgeon at OhioHealth, Michael Sarap, MD, while working as a bus aide. 

“I waited until the last kid got off…then I sat there and cried,” Stacey told The Daily Jeffersonian.

Her diagnosis meant beginning chemotherapy immediately, a challenging treatment process Dr. Sarap explained was essential to manage Stacey’s aggressive cancer type. She was grateful for her quick access to the John W. and Edna McManus Shepard Cancer Center, located just 20 minutes from home.

For Dr. Sarap, Southeastern Medical Center’s local approach to cancer care is essential for patients’ well-being.

“You don’t want to be traveling an hour and a half when you’re that sick…local care lets patients maintain family, work, and life schedules,” he said. Last year alone, the center provided over 10,000 patient visits, with nurse manager Lori Cady noting the facility’s steady growth in serving Guernsey County and beyond.

And for Stacey, being able to stay near her family and her farm helped lighten her emotional and financial burdens. 

“I couldn’t have done it traveling to Columbus or Cleveland…we couldn’t have done it financially, either,” she said.

In January, Stacey began chemotherapy and quickly felt the effects. The treatment was grueling, and there were moments she considered stopping. 

“I just thought, ‘this isn’t worth it,’” she said. With encouragement from her husband and the compassionate support of her medical team, Stacey pushed on. “The nurses were incredible. Every day, they’d ask about my mental health, side effects, and even helped me shave my head. They genuinely cared.”

After months of challenging treatments, Stacey faced surgery in May. Dr. Sarap delivered her results personally on her 53rd birthday.

“He called me from his vacation. He said, ‘Stacey, I had to make this phone call. You’re cancer-free,’” she said. 

During her illness, Stacey’s dog, Rip, seemed to sense her struggle, often keeping a distance. But on that day, he was different—his energy lifted, and he began acting more like his old self.

“My son looked at me and said, ‘Rip knew you were cancer-free, Mom. He was telling you were cancer-free.’ It was my birthday gift,” Stacey said.

Dr. Sarap attributes Stacey’s successful treatment to the commitment and teamwork of the Southeastern Med staff. With a close-knit team, the center holds monthly meetings with surgeons, social workers and genetics counselors to ensure comprehensive patient care.

“Cancer patients can’t wait a week when their life hangs in the balance. Here, I can get them seen within a day or two,” Dr. Sarap said.

At a recent event, Southeastern Med celebrated its $12 million cancer center, funded by $5 million in local donations, including major gifts from the William Baker and Art Shepard families. Equipped with advanced technology like the Varian linear accelerator and nine infusion pods, the center provides comprehensive cancer treatments and support services.

“It’s amazing access for a town that’s so small,” he said, noting that Southeastern Med has been accredited by the National Commission on Cancer for 35 years. “We follow the same national standards as any hospital in America. That means the care you get here is the same care you get in Columbus.” 

For those like Stacey, this access can be life-changing.

“It’s very rewarding,” Dr. Sarap said. “Twenty years ago, a patient with a triple negative breast cancer would not have a chance. But now…it’s a success story. It’s teamwork. Everybody played a role in it.”

To learn more about cancer services at OhioHealth Southeastern Medical Center, click here.