‘No One Walks Alone’: How SIH Helped One Woman Face Breast Cancer With Hope and Heart

For Angie Absher-Sample of Logan, yearly mammograms were non-negotiable. With a strong family history of cancer—her mother diagnosed with breast cancer twice, her father lost to colon cancer and a sister facing a double mastectomy—Angie took preventive screenings seriously. But in November 2024, even her diligence couldn’t fully prepare her for the call that followed her routine mammogram at the SIH Breast Center.

“They found something that hadn’t been there before,” Angie recalled. “Even with everything my family had been through, I still prayed I’d get a pass.”

She was soon diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma. Within weeks, Angie underwent surgery at SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. By mid-December, she began 20 rounds of radiation under the care of Dr. Kathryn Lewis at the SIH Cancer Institute in Carterville. On March 18, 2025, she rang the bell, marking the end of her treatment—but not her journey of healing and hope.

Having witnessed her mother and sister travel hours for care in Springfield and Indiana, Angie is grateful she could receive all of her treatment close to home.

“People don’t realize the toll travel takes—emotionally, financially, physically. To have this kind of care in our own backyard is a blessing,” she said. “The team at SIH took care of me like family. Dr. Catherine O’Connor called me at 8 p.m. one night just because she was concerned. That’s not just a job—that’s heart.”

Angie emphasizes the importance of early detection and encourages others not to delay their annual screenings.

“If you think a mammogram doesn’t matter, you are mistaken. It saved my life.”

Her message to those facing a cancer diagnosis is simple but powerful: “Be patient. Be hopeful. And never underestimate the power of a positive attitude."

For Angie, the SIH Cancer Institute wasn’t just a treatment facility—it became a place of comfort, compassion and community. “No one walks alone here,” she said, reflecting on both the shirt she wore and the care she received. “These people will be your best friends when you need them most.”