When the News Hits Home A Breast Cancer Journey from Ashland

When the News Hits Home

A Breast Cancer Journey from Ashland

Rebecca Hemlock

The Ashland Beacon

Tiffany Jobe, a 46-year-old resident of Ashland, Kentucky, is sharing her battle with breast cancer in a candid narrative that underscores the emotional and practical challenges of a cancer diagnosis—and the powerful role of community and medical care in guiding patients through the storm. Jobe was diagnosed in July and began chemotherapy at the end of the month.

She faces a long treatment plan: 20 rounds of chemotherapy followed by a mastectomy scheduled for January. In recounting the moment she learned the news, she described a flood of emotions that many cancer patients recognize all too well. “I screamed. I cried. It was miserable,” she said, reflecting on the instant life-altering impact.

The news, she noted, rippled beyond her own body, affecting her husband, Casey, and their two daughters, Delaney and Addison.

The emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis is something Jobe said she couldn’t escape. In those first days, the fear of the worst-case scenarios loomed large, and guilt crept in as she considered the potential consequences for her family. Addison is in her senior year, she noted, and Jobe worried about missing important moments; Delaney has often been her appointment chauffeur, and Jobe feared she might not be present for adult milestones.

The thought of life without her, particularly for Casey, was overwhelming. “It was just such a dark few days of constant fear,” she recalled, alongside a growing anger about the sudden intrusion of cancer into everyday life.

Yet Jobe’s story is also one of resilience, anchored by a deeply supportive medical team at Edwards Cancer Center, part of Cabell Huntington Hospital. She credits the care she has received for not only addressing her physical needs but also stabilizing her mental and emotional well-being.

Nurses in Dr. Mary Lagenza’s office and the doctor herself are singled out for their genuine concern, with daily calls and check-ins that helped transition her from “normal everyday life” to the realities of cancer treatment. This level of care, Jobe says, helped her recognize that cancer is not a death sentence, even as the road ahead remains challenging. “They helped me realize this was not a death sentence and although it would be a hard road ahead, I will survive,” she wrote.

The experience so far has reinforced for Jobe the importance of family, friends, and community support. She expressed gratitude for the outpouring of encouragement that has sustained her through the hardest days, noting that such support has been a key factor in her fighting spirit. “I am most thankful for my family, friends, and community who have loved and supported me through this all,” she said. “White Oak Wellness who also did a silent auction fundraiser that just ended. Candice Steel, Chrisha Spears, Melissa Pace, and my daughter Delaney Jackson all helped make it happen with several members of the community who donated items for free to be auctioned off,” noted Jobe.

The messages of love and strength have, she added, reminded her that she is deeply cared for and not alone in her journey. Jobe also reflected on her prior hesitancy toward medical care.

Before the diagnosis, she admitted to fearing doctors and delaying checkups for a lump she noticed years earlier. Those fears, she said, intensified as pain emerged earlier this year. Her decision to seek medical advice ultimately led to a diagnosis that has reshaped her life. “If I had gone to the doctor and gotten the testing I should have been getting, I might not have had to go through this,” she emphasized.

Her message to others is stark and clear: prioritize health and routine screenings, because early detection can make a profound difference. The story also includes a note about a local philanthropic response tied to a broader community effort to support those battling breast cancer. Tiffany’s brother, Dustin, who serves as the captain of the Ashland Fire Department, has spearheaded a charitable initiative tied to a yearly fundraising event designed to support cancer patients.

Dustin has designated Tiffany as the recipient of this year’s activity, highlighting how local organizations come together to lift families facing similar battles. Beyond the immediate medical and emotional implications, Jobe’s journey underscores a broader theme about the power of community-based health care and peer support in rural and semi-rural areas.

The Edwards Cancer Center team’s hands-on approach—checking in, coordinating care, and providing reassurance—illustrates how access to compassionate, patient-centered care can help patients navigate fear and uncertainty. In oncology, where treatment can be brutal and isolating, such human elements often play as crucial a role as the medical interventions themselves.

As Jobe prepares for the next phase of treatment, the hope is that continued access to comprehensive care, along with the unwavering support of family, friends, and community, will help her reach a point where the cancer retreat is possible culminating in successful treatment and a path back to normal life.

In the meantime, the community’s response continues to bode well for those facing similar diagnoses. The annual fundraising event organized by the Ashland Fire Department remains a beacon of solidarity, offering practical help and a sense that no one stands alone when facing a health crisis. Jobe’s story—raw, intimate, and ultimately hopeful—remains a testament to the strength found in connection, care, and collective action in the face of serious illness.