Surfside Beach dentist office goes pink to support one of its own

Everywhere you look, there's something pink at Glenns Bay Dental Associates in Surfside Beach.

For its patients and staff, the meaning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month hits close to home.  One of their own, Dr. Julie Obenchain, was diagnosed with the disease in the Summer of 2010.

"I was just doing my self exams in the shower, and happened to notice a lump -- so I acted on it quickly and within weeks, I was diagnosed, in surgery, and beginning treatment," said Obenchain.

The cancer was in stage one when the doctors found it.  She was only 38 years old, and had no family history of the disease.

It was a time the dentist, and mother of three, describes as terrifying -- wondering if her children would lose their mother.

"I did a lot of crying in the beginning, and then became kind of like a warrior," said Obenchain. "[I said] 'Okay, I know what I need to do, I've got to focus -- we're going to get our medicines, do what we need to, and get through it.'"

She did more than just "get through" it, all with the help of her co-workers, and one patient in particular.

"I just happened to be here the day that she was getting her results back that she had breast cancer," said Vickie Edwards. "I just felt like it was kind of my calling to be there at that particular time, and to help her go through that."

Edwards' mother was a breast cancer survivor, so she knew what Dr. Obenchain was going through.  She went with Obenchain to each one of her chemotherapy treatments -- and the two became fast friends.

The whole time, Dr. Obenchain never missed a day of work.

"It was amazing, I mean, she was like a hero kind of person to watch in action," said Edwards.

To support Dr. Obenchain and breast cancer awareness, Glenns Bay Dental Associates will donate 5% of treatment fees to breast cancer research during the month of October.

By using what they do best, Dr. Obenchain hopes to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

She's proud to say she has been cancer-free since June.

"It feels good, because now I can say I've beat it, I've done it -- and now what I hope to do is just help other people through it," she said.

Tags: cancer obenchain breast through edwards mother month diagnosed