Tammy Pallares

I'm a school teacher, but school was in session for me when I went through cancer, and I believe the lessons I learned will last me a lifetime.

I was teaching middle school Spanish teacher in the Tulsa Public School system and training to run a marathon when I felt a lump in my groin area in the spring of 2003.

My physician originally thought it might just be a stopped up lymph node, but, following surgery, test results showed a stage 3 systemic lymphatic melanoma. I was given a 37-percent chance of living another year.

That was surreal. I felt like I was in a Dali painting or something. I've had major health crises in my life, including a ruptured appendix and an arterial bypass to the brain, and I've had great physicians and care, but it was hard to comprehend this.

My physician began talking to a cancer center in another state. They told him they could do nothing for me and that neither radiation nor chemotherapy would help. They did tell him that in addition to removing lymph nodes all around the cancer site, cutting off the back of my leg might give mer some time. I was terrified, and I began to pray.

It was now July. A television commercial for Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) prompted me to call. I needed another opinion. I soon had an appointment with a CTCA physician.

Because CTCA provides integrative care, I not only met with an oncologist and surgeon, but also with all the other physicians and clinicians who'd take part in treating my mind, body and spirit. I remember, in particular, naturopathy and nutrition, and how much I learned.

But, instead of being overwhelmed, I began to feel God's peace. It's the way they present things at CTCA, even when something is urgent. Dr. Pierre Greef, the surgical oncologist I saw, helped me feel so calm. After reviewing my test results and medical history, he agreed with the diagnosis I'd been given and what I'd been told -- that neither radiation nor chemotherapy would be effective treatment for my cancer. He said he would need to go in and take out the lymph nodes in that groin area and maybe some in the stomach area, see what was there, and then they'd watch me for a while. He told me I could take time to decide what I wanted to do and he'd see me in a couple weeks.

During that waiting time, I prayed; my family prayed; people in Bogota, Columbia, where I'd taught for a few years, as well as my church family here in Tulsa prayed. And while I can't really explain what happened or how I knew, there came a moment when I felt God speak to me that the cancer was gone. He gave me an all-knowing peace, and I just knew He'd taken care of it.

When I met again with Dr. Greef, I agreed to surgery. And when the lymph nodes were taken out and examined, there was no sign of cancer and no point of origin.

It had been a trying few weeks leading up to the surgery. I'd told God I didn't have enough faith and heard Him respond that I didn't have to rely on my faith, because He provided the faith I needed and I could rely on that; it was enough. I'd claimed the prayer of Jabez for myself, from I Chronicles 4 in the Bible, and He showed me life was all about Him, not about me. In II Chronicles 20, He taught me the battle wasn't mine, it's His. And even today, in my devotion time with Him, He showed me in Isaiah 38 that it's for my benefit I've had to suffer some anguish, because I've learned that in His love, He keeps me.

In the months that followed, I worked with therapists in rehabilitation at CTCA. They showed me how to stimulate my lymph system so I wouldn't experience a lot of swelling (lymphedema). I took all the supplements the naturopathic practitioners suggested and felt they helped me recover more quickly and healthier.

CTCA is such an amazing place. Everyone, from the registration desk to the housekeepers, are so kind. They call you by name. They treat you like you're the only patient and your needs are important. And they teach you so much. What I learned from the physical therapists, I thought everyone who has cancer learned. But I've talked to many people with cancer who've been treated other places, and they had considerable swelling and had never been taught to do all the things I was taught to do by CTCA.

In June this year, I participated in the Celebrate Life event CTCA holds for five-year survivors. For me, the most meaningful part of the event was the Hope Rounds, where I met with a newly diagnosed cancer patient to encourage her and give her hope.

I cried the whole time. It's the greatest thing in the world to be able to serve God by giving others hope. I'm still goofy; I'm still human and mess things up, but I've learned it's truly not about me, it's about God, and I pray He allows me to glorify Him each day. After all, Jesus died for me.

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