Charlene McArthur

Caregiver and cancer survivor weren’t two of the roles I anticipated sharing with Don when we married almost 48 years ago. But they’re roles we’ve tried to accept with courage and faith.

Don, a well-known Tulsa orthodontist, was the first to receive a cancer diagnosis. Three years later, I also received a cancer diagnosis, when a routine mammogram revealed the disease in one of my breasts. When Don was diagnosed, I was scared, because he was so worried about me and all the details of our lives. When I was diagnosed, I was simply stunned. How could this be? There’s no cancer in my family background. I didn’t feel sick. I wasn’t sad. I just knew from going through cancer with Don that I needed to dive in and do whatever needed to be done. The rest was up to God. Whatever He decided about my life was fine with me.

Before 9-11, we’d purchased a home in Waco, Texas to be closer to our daughter and her family. We began preparations for their move. Don sold his practice, and we sent a great deal of our furniture and clothes to Waco. But every time we thought we were ready for the final relocation, something always seemed to be holding us back. It wasn’t until recently that we recognized what and why.

When my cancer was first diagnosed in Tulsa, I underwent both a lumpectomy and mastectomy. Both my surgeon and oncologist agreed that I fell into a two percent bracket where further treatment wouldn’t be beneficial. I was hormone non-receptive, so no treatment was given.

But at my four-month check-up, my physician recommended getting a second opinion. She arranged an appointment for me at a major cancer facility in Houston, Texas. But, after a five-minute appointment with the oncologist there, I was again told I didn’t need further treatment and to come back in six months. When I returned, six months later, I had an even shorter appointment and was told once again to come back six months later. In the meantime, the oncologist recommended I join the hospital’s Health and Wellness Clinic.

However, back in Tulsa, at my next mammogram, cancer had invaded my second breast. Following a second mastectomy, I was again told no further treatment was necessary, even though, this time, I was hormone receptive.

Another trip to the cancer facility in Houston proved frustrating, as I wasn’t given an appointment with an oncologist and was told again to just join the Health and Wellness Clinic. I went back home.

A small lump appeared in the breast area where I’d had the second mastectomy. I called my surgeon in Tulsa to have it checked, but he told her me I was fine. I decided to see the oncologist both I and Don had been using for our cancers and discovered he’d joined Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA).

At CTCA, I became the patient of another oncologist, Dr. Shrestha. This was a miracle for me; I consider it to be “divine intervention” I saw Dr. Shrestha in April 2006, and she actually took time to examine me, talk to me and give me some tests. The tests showed I was now in fourth stage breast cancer, and I started chemotherapy. I only wish I’d found CTCA in the beginning. After all, it was right here in Tulsa, and my cancer could have been arrested before stage four.”

Even though we’d bought the house in Waco four years earlier, something was keeping us here in Tulsa. After coming to CTCA, we realized God wanted me to live. He guided us here. If we’d moved away, I’d never have known I had stage four cancer until it was too late to get the help I needed.”

I’ve recently finished my chemo, and tests show I’m cancer free. Even though we now feel free to move to Texas, we’ll always return to CTCA. CTCA was an answer to prayers. Nowhere will anyone find a better environment in which to receive treatment. There’s a feeling of being in the right place from the time you walk through the front doors. CTCA is the only place I’ve ever been where treatment is compassionate and complete, treating mind, soul and body. My spirit is always lifted because of so much hope and all those hugs and encouragement.

• Email This Page to a Friend
• Print this Page