A teammates breast cancer journey at Via Christi

Angela Wharton is a woman defined by her faith, her family, and her 15-year career at Ascension Medical Group Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas. Working at the clinic on East Central, she spends her days helping other women schedule vital appointments, from annual mammograms to diagnostic imaging. Outside of work, she is the dedicated mother of five adult sons and a caregiver for her sister, who lives with her. Angela’s life has always been rooted in service to her community and her love for people, particularly the elderly.

A routine mammogram led to a breast cancer diagnosis 

Though Angela had always been faithful about receiving her annual mammograms since age 40, a change in insurance providers in early 2026 caused her to run slightly behind schedule. 

During this time, she noticed persistent itching in her left breast. She underwent a screening mammogram on Feb. 6, which led to a diagnostic call. Following a diagnostic mammogram on Feb. 24 and a biopsy days later, Angela received the life-altering news on March 3: she had breast cancer. 

“I had no lumps and I don’t have a family history of cancer. For this to happen, it could happen to anyone,” Angela said.

Compassionate breast cancer care at Via Christi 

Angela faced her diagnosis with the same faith that has guided her life. She immediately shared the news with her teammates at AMG Via Christi, whom she considers family. 

Her co-worker Ashley Davidson, stepped in immediately to handle Angela’s scheduling and support her. Her medical team, led by Samantha Beck, MD, emphasized that they were at "ground zero" thanks to early detection. Dr. Beck, Medical Director of the Via Christi Breast Wellness Center, performed a lumpectomy, removing the tumor along with a small amount of surrounding healthy tissue to help ensure all cancerous tissue was removed. 

Angela credits Dr. Beck’s entire team along with the imaging team at Ascension Via Christi on Murdock with offering her kindness and support to keep her going through this journey. Though nervous about undergoing surgery for the first time, Angela felt surrounded by love. On the day of her procedure, all five of her sons — whom she affectionately calls 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 — were cheering her on.

Early detection led to a cancer-free outcome

The outcome of Angela’s surgery was a testament to the power of early intervention. Two weeks after surgery, Angela was declared cancer-free. Because the cancer was caught so early, she did not require chemotherapy or radiation. 

To celebrate, her "work family" at AMG Via Christi on East Central, led by Ashley, Erika Monton, Kasey Gilday and Saovany Carrasco, threw a surprise celebration filled with lots of pink, including pink balloons, pink tablecloths and a pink crown. 

Reflecting on her experience, Angela is more passionate than ever about her role at the clinic.

“Experiencing this and knowing with God all things are possible. I could have been the one who didn’t get detected early,” she shared. 

The diagnosis made her even more focused on the importance of maintaining health. Now, her work helping women schedule appointments is imbued with greater purpose. 

“And now I’m even more focused on helping other women,” She said “That has become a passion for me, even more now, since my diagnosis, I have seen so many women come across my path and I want to help and encourage them more than ever”. 

To learn more about Via Christi’s breast cancer care, call (316) 268-8008.