Finding Breast Cancer Early, Treating It Close to Home

With a trained eye, a tiny speck can change everything.  

As artist Carol Jones worked on an abstract painting, a tiny speck revealed a cross. In her annual mammogram in November 2025, a tiny change revealed early-stage breast cancer. 

The radiology team told her they were able to find the change because they had years of images to review. Carol credits her primary care physician, Dr. Gerald Turner, and the team at West Point Medical Clinic, for making sure she stayed on track. 

“I’m lucky,” said Carol, 68, of Columbus. “Everyone has been so good to me.”

Carol’s Breast Cancer Journey

Because Carol was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, she was a candidate for lumpectomy, where just the tumor is removed. Breast and general surgeon Dr. Danny Sanders performed Carol’s surgery at North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo. 

“They put me at ease,” Carol said. “I knew I was in God’s hands, and I was in a good place.” 

Carol was able to receive the rest of her cancer treatment close to home at North Mississippi Health Services Cancer Care in Starkville, which provides both medical oncology and radiation oncology.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Benjamin Hinton oversaw her four weeks of radiation therapy, which is used with lumpectomy to reduce risk of breast cancer returning. 

Hematologist oncologist Dr. Rana Usman has overseen Carol’s follow-up care. Because her tumor tested positive for hormone receptors, she takes an estrogen blocker to further reduce her risk of recurrence. 

Throughout the process, breast cancer nurse navigator Alison Christopher called to check on her, answering questions and guiding her through the process.

“I love her to death,” Carol said. 

As Carol completed the active part of her treatment, she donated a piece of her work, an impressionistic painting of trees with the light shining through. Carol named the painting, “Faith.” It now hangs in the outpatient infusion check-in area at Hematology Oncology in Tupelo.

“It means the world to me to give something back,” Carol said. “I hope it brings comfort to others.” 

Finding Joy in Cancer Recovery

Going through cancer treatment wasn’t always easy. Carol, who served as a registered dietitian for 44 years, drew on life lessons from the dialysis patients she worked with at the end of her career. 

“Hold tight to the things that bring you joy,” Carol said. 

For her, joy was found in her faith, her two cats and her art. 

“I think art is my sanity,” Carol said. “I can lose myself in my work.”

Sometimes her work will surprise her. While working on one abstract painting, she turned the canvas and a spot of yellow caught her eye. 

“I saw the semblance of the cross, and so I just brought it out in the painting.”

Along with painting, she strives to make herself as healthy as possible, with good nutrition, regular exercise and meditation. 

“I didn’t want to have cancer,” Carol said. “But it gives me peace to do what I can and give the rest to God.”