FirstHealth Cancer Center

07/02/2025

06/24/2025

For Judy Georges, March 2025 brought an unexpected turn in her retirement years. At 65, she was living a peaceful life in Fayetteville, N.C., when a moment at her kitchen sink changed everything.

“I was standing there washing dishes when I suddenly felt cramping and experienced bleeding,” Georges recalled. “I had noticed bleeding before and wondered if it was normal for my age, but I hadn’t said anything. That day, I knew I needed to take action.”

The action led her to A Woman’s Place in Fayetteville, where she was referred to the FirstHealth Cancer Center in Pinehurst. The diagnosis—endometrial cancer—was a shock. Accompanied by her sister and a church family member, Georges traveled to Pinehurst where she met Brian Burgess, D.O., gynecologic oncologist and member of FirstHealth’s cancer care team. From their first meeting, Georges knew she was in good hands.

“Dr. Burgess took time to explain everything about my cancer and the treatment he recommended,” she said. “He broke it down for me to understand. He made me feel comfortable and confident that I was prepared to do what needed to be done.”

For Georges, that meant surgery. Dr. Burgess identified the tumor in her uterus and moved quickly to schedule a hysterectomy at Moore Regional Hospital. On May 15, at her one-month follow-up appointment, she rang the celebratory bell at the Cancer Center, marking the end of treatment and the beginning of survivorship. Always one to put on a brave face, Georges revealed her fear. “I left it to my faith and trusted God to work through Dr. Burgess,” she said.

To others, Georges offers this advice, “Don’t wait. If something feels off with your body, get it checked out. And if you are in a cancer journey, have faith and take care of yourself. You are worth it, and you can do it.”

06/02/2025

05/13/2025

03/24/2025

We always use Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month as a time to remind our communities about the importance of colon cancer screening. For our surgical services team in Richmond County, this has taken on special meaning as one of our own, nurse Debi Ussery, goes through her own colon cancer journey.

Debi (far left) had surgery for her cancer at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst and is currently undergoing treatment at the FirstHealth Cancer Center. She is also still working and advocating for others, ensuring patients know the importance of screening and early detection. Learn more: www.FirstHealth.org/colonoscopy

Pictured from left to right: Debi Ussery, R.N., Kelli Franklin, R.N., Betsy Fleury, GI Tech, Shoukath Ansari, M.D., Michele Gallant, GI Tech, Johnny Willingham, GI Nurse and Dana Williams, GI Tech.

03/03/2025

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. We are committed to raising awareness of colorectal cancer and preventing future cases. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 150,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year.

But there is good news. With screening, colorectal cancer is highly preventable. Learn more on our website: https://ow.ly/1VHe50QJT93

02/12/2025

01/30/2025

Our gynecologic oncology team is growing as we welcome Lindsey Huckbody, PA-C, to the FirstHealth Cancer Center. Huckbody will work alongside Michael J. Sundborg, M.D., FACOG and Brian T. Burgess, D.O., PH.D., FACOG. Huckbody said she's excited to serve patients and called caring for women fighting cancer "an honor."

Learn more about Huckbody: https://bit.ly/4hwMqPM

01/17/2025

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: This week we are spotlighting Brittany McArn, the winner of the 2025 FirstHealth MLK Leadership Award and an integral member of the FirstHealth Cancer Center team.

Brittany began her career in oncology services in 2016 as a patient assistance specialist in medical oncology. By 2018, she transitioned into the role of financial navigator—the only such position in FirstHealth cancer services at the time. Today, Brittany serves as the financial navigation manager, leading a team of seven navigators dedicated to reducing the financial burden of cancer care. Brittany and her team work tirelessly to address patients’ financial challenges, from insurance authorization to transportation assistance and connecting patients to community resources. Brittany holds an associate degree from Sandhills Community College and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UNC Pembroke. She is also certified as an Oncology Patient Navigator and a Certified Professional Patient Navigator, credentials that reflect her commitment to patient care and support.

Proud to work in her hometown, Brittany takes great pride in FirstHealth’s ability to offer high-level cancer services typically only found at larger medical centers. “It’s an honor to provide this level of care in the community I was raised,” she said.