My name is Clayton Lawson and as many of you know I work for the Buckingham County School System. I am reaching out to the community in hopes that we can lift up one of our own during the toughest time in her life.

Amber Diane Britt Gentry, CTE Business Education Teacher, CTE Testing Coordinator and FBLA Advisor is currently facing a battle with breast cancer. Amber is not just a superstar when in the classroom, outside of school she is a wife, mother to two children 12 & 17, aunt and daughter. In 2025 Amber was given the CTE Teacher of The Year Award and in 2024-2025 The Most Extraordinary Teacher Award. Her love for her students and job goes far beyond the hours of a school day, she truly always goes the extra mile and is an asset for all that know her. Just recently she pushed her radiation back a week so she could attend an FBLA trip with her students. Even in the mist of illness that is unimaginable, Amber strives to put the ones she loves before herself.

Amber has been shown love and support through other fundraisers earlier in her battle with Cancer. However, with continued treatments, procedures and surgeries scheduled Amber still needs the blessing of support from her community. Illness related expenses will continue to occur until at least spring of 2026. When facing illness such as cancer head on, the longevity of the financial impacts is substantial and is felt greatly. I was led to ask Amber if I could set this page up due to my own personal experience within my family, remembering the extended hospital stays, travel expenses, out of pocket cost not covered by insurance my family had, exhausting family members PTO. It was the support of community that helped us during a difficult time, and I am hopeful Amber can be blessed with that same support.

Funds raised on this page will assist Amber with expenses as she continues her journey to be fully healthy and healed. Right now, she is currently commuting roughly 3hours daily for three weeks for treatment - the travel expense alone is costly.

No matter how small or big the donation any will provide a positive impact for Amber and her family. She is forever gracious and thankful for all who have helped thus far.

If you are unable to donate at this time, please know this GoFundMe campaign will be posted for the next few months to continue to help Amber and her family. The season of giving is upon us, if you are in a position where you are unable to give a monetary donation, please consider showering Amber with love and prayer.

Below you will see a detailed message providing information on Amber's journey and future medical plan.

In January 2025 Amber discovered a lump on her breast. She quickly reached out to her primary care doctor and was sent immediately to UVA Breast Care Center. UVA diagnosed Amber with stage 2B Invasive ductal carcinoma ER/PR+, HER2- in February of 2025. After surgery, they found that Amber also had Lobular carcinoma in SITU and cancer in her lymph node along with cancer in the tissue surrounding the lymph node which classified it as macro metastatic breast cancer. She has undergone countless procedures to include mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, MRI, CT, left mastectomy, lymph node removal, expander placement, port placement and removal, chemo (anaphylactic shock with first infusion so they switched the type of chemo), and now 15 rounds of radiation. Chemo treatments were from the first week of June until the end of August. Radiation finishes October 17 (5 days a week for three weeks). She is working and has been working through treatment.

Due to chemo, Amber has been diagnosed with neuropathy in her hands and feet.

The combination of chemo and lymph node removal has caused stage one lymphedema in her left arm. Amber is undergoing treatment for the lymphedema and will be required to wear a compression sleeve for the rest of her life to prevent swelling in her arm, infections, or pain.

Moving forward consists of finishing radiation, being placed into medical menopause starting Oct 6 and starting hormone blocking medications to prevent cancer regrowth. Amber will be required to take the hormone blocking medications for at least seven years.

Appointments have been scheduled to meet with a plastic surgeon for reconstruction and a gynecological surgeon for the removal of tubes and ovaries to prevent cancer regrowth.

Amber is scheduled for surgery in spring of 2026 for removal of tissue that was missed during the first surgery that still had cancer in it (to obtain clear margins), reconstruction surgery for her left breast, and removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries. Amber will be out of work for 6-8 weeks. (Surgery has to be six months after radiation, that’s why it won’t be until spring).

Amber will have another mammogram in February of 2026 to ensure there is no cancer in her right breast.

Amber is not sure of the plan after that but hopes it consists of her being completely healed and cancer free!