In honor of Stephanie Brigman
When college senior Stephanie Brigman’s tooth cracked, she thought she had been consuming too many Altoid mints. The cause, however, was not the mints, but a tumor growing in her jaw.
A root canal during the summer of 2008 followed by several attempts to save the tooth
were to no avail. Brigman was experiencing a high level of pain as a mass kept
growing in her jaw. Her oral surgeon sent her to UNC Hospitals in November 2008.
Brigman says, “I knew something was wrong, and I had a feeling it may be cancer. Even so, it blew me away when the diagnosis was confirmed.”
By then Brigman had graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in English, but the pain she was experiencing hampered her job search.
Brigman says that when she visited with UNC Lineberger Head & Neck Oncology physicians Dr. Adam Zanation, an ENT surgeon, and Dr. Eric Halvorson, a plastic surgeon, “they told me that the (atypical osteblastic sarcoma) tumor was localized and that a surgery would give me a good outcome.” The surgery was planned for January 2009, just in time since the tumor was making it hard for her to breathe.
The surgery, lasting more than 10 hours, involved removing the tumor, left mandible and surrounding lymph nodes, harvesting part of Brigman’s fibula (outer and narrower of two bones in the lower human leg) to create a new mandible (lower jaw) and situating the new structure. Brigman spent eight days in the hospital, recovering from the surgery, learning to manage the crutches while her leg healed, and adapting to a liquid diet.
Brigman says, “It was a great team effort and the communication between departments was excellent. When I had concerns, they would listen and their optimism was contagious. They were compassionate and treated me as an individual, not just a cancer patient. I couldn’t have asked for better care.”
After a year and one smaller surgery, Brigman is fully healed, eating normally and moving on with her life. “I’ll be monitored for the rest of my life,” Brigman explains. “Although it was difficult to go through at times, I view my cancer as a blessing. I learned so much that strengthened my faith and character, and taught me to be thankful for the life that I have as well as the people in it.”
“The love and encouragement I received from my friends and family was irreplaceable. It was incredible to feel the Lord showering me with love through the people around me.”
Brigman is a freelance writer for CityView Magazine in Fayetteville and a receptionist at Eastover Pediatrics in Eastover.
Brigman serves on the new Patient and Family Advisory Board for the N.C. Cancer Hospital. “I want to encourage patients and ensure that they have the best possible care. Cancer is a difficult disease, but it doesn’t have to define you. There is always hope and it can be overcome.”
She advises newly diagnosed patients to “focus on the outcome, not what you’re going through at the present and don’t try to go through it alone. It’s amazing to see the Lord work in your life and how He can use people to encourage you through your journey.”