How pickleball, positivity and a trusted care team helped Gail face cancer.
When Gail Meriweather talks about her cancer journey, she doesn’t describe it as a battle. She describes it as a sports season where she’s the star player with a role to play, a team behind her and coaches she trusts to call the plays.
In May 2025, Gail noticed a growing breast mass and scheduled a check-up with her primary doctor, who ordered a CT scan and referred her to a specialist. Within 24 hours of her appointment, she was sitting in the office of Mangesh Oza, MD, a general surgeon with NKC Health General Surgery, who immediately recognized the urgency of her symptoms.
“I was 99 percent sure we were dealing with cancer before we even had the pathology back,” Dr. Oza said. “The important thing was making sure Gail understood we needed to move quickly, and we had a team in place ready to act.”
In the following days, Gail underwent a sonogram, MRI, mammogram and biopsy — which lead to a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. Her care team immediately started working on a game plan.
An avid pickleball captain, Gail approached treatment with the same mindset she brings to the court: stay focused, stay positive and never give up. From the moment she arrived at NKC Health for cancer treatment, Gail felt ready to win. But she also experienced something she didn’t expect — a sense of calm.
“I knew I was where I was supposed to be,” she said.
That feeling only deepened as she met more of her care team, including Ben Fangman, MD, an oncologist with NKC Health Cancer Care, whom she affectionately calls “the head coach.”
“I was very impressed with her mindset as she was in the midst of what is obviously a scary situation,” Dr. Fangman said. “I was immediately struck by how positive she was. She said from the beginning she was going to win and live her life the way she wants.”
That shared confidence -became part of Gail’s approach throughout treatment. While Dr. Fangman focused on delivering the best possible care, Gail stayed committed to maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on what she could control.
“I had a role to play,” Gail explained. “I needed to stay centered and just control what I could control because I was confident in my team, and I knew I was going to beat it.”
That determination stood out to her care team.
“Her biggest concern was, ‘Is this going to prevent me from playing pickleball?’” Dr. Fangman laughed. “It comes up in almost all of our conversations.”
Pickleball is a key part of what Gail calls her training plan to beat cancer. On the court, her radiant smile says everything — she beams with the same joy and competitive spirit that carried her through treatment.
Her resilience was matched by remarkable medical progress. After beginning chemotherapy in July 2025, a scan in October showed no metabolic activity consistent with cancer. After just three months, the cancer was in remission.
“She’s done remarkably well,” Dr. Fangman said. “In fact, if you were to see her, you would have no idea she’s going through this.”
Throughout her cancer journey, Gail leaned into positivity and the team around her.
“I have never seen a more cohesive and friendly group,” she said. “They really care for you like they’re your teammates, and that gave me confidence.”
Dr. Fangman says that a sense of connection is essential.
“The relationship with the patient is the most important part of cancer care,” he said. “Patients have to know you care deeply and you’ll do whatever you can to assist them through their diagnosis and treatment. That’s something that sets us apart at NKC Health.”
That philosophy extends even beyond treatment. For Dr. Fangman, success means helping patients return to the family and friends, routines and activities that matter most to them.
“Our job is to get people back to doing whatever they want to do. For Gail, that was playing pickleball,” Dr. Fangman added. “To see her back on the court and enjoying life — that’s the outcome we work for.”
Dr. Oza hopes Gail’s journey inspires others to seek care and pick a team that has their backs.
“Always get your mammograms and follow up with your doctor,” he said. “And no matter how overwhelming a diagnosis may feel, there are really great people right here - ready to care for you.”
Today, a year after she began treatment, Gail continues immunotherapy while still playing and winning at pickleball with her same competitive and determined spirit.
“I don’t have to travel away from home for my care. I just get in my car, drive down the street and receive some of the best treatment anybody could get anywhere in the world.”
Take charge of your health and schedule your mammogram today at nkchealth.org/Mammo.
