Janette Dixon

If I were to describe myself, I would tell you, first and foremost, that I'm a daughter of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. I'm also a wife, mother of two boys and grandmother of eight. I'm an avid historian, and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. I'm also heavily involved in womens ministry at my church, Castle Hills First Baptist Church in San Antonio, and with national Christian ministry efforts, such as the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

In February 2008, I was having a great deal of sinus problems. Trips to the physician in March resulted in head and chest x-rays, and they learned my right lung was two-thirds full of fluid. I was admitted to the hospital, and in a 14-day period, they emptied five liters of fluid from my lung. It was shortly thereafter, from the tests conducted, that we learned I had a classic case of ovarian cancer, with cancer on my left ovary and fluid on my right lung. They staged my cancer at between three and four.

In April, I had surgery, which included a complete hysterectomy and a partial colon resection. Prior to it, I asked my pastor to anoint me with oil and my deacons and friends to participate in a Wednesday prayer service.

I determined from the beginning that I wanted to glorify the Lord throughout this cancer journey. My family, church family and friends have really rallied around me. From the time I learned I had cancer, I've sent out regular e-mails, detailing where I was in my thinking, in the decision-making process and treatment and asking for targeted and specific prayer. And then, I've written back with the answers, so everyone could see all that God had done.

As a historian, I'm accustomed to researching for the best approach to a need. But, this time, my sons and sister-in-law told me my job was to get well, and they were going to research the best places and best treatments to see what my options were.

My sister-in-law researched many of the major cancer treatment centers in the country on the Internet. Interestingly enough, when the source couldn't answer a question she had, it would refer her to Cancer Treatment Centers of America for the answer. When she and my boys finished with their research, they put together a spread sheet so we could compare all the facilities and treatment options for my cancer that we had considered. From that comparison, it was clear that Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) was the best place for me.

One of the deciding factors was the emphasis on nutrition at CTCA. I had 10 years experience working with a certified nutritionist, so I know the benefits of nutrition, and that was important to me in treating my cancer. And I loved the whole person approach CTCA offered.

I arrived at CTCA in Tulsa on June 5, 2008, just six weeks after surgery. In discussing treatment options with my medical oncologist, Dr. Petra Ketterl, I asked about chronotherapy, a method of delivering chemotherapy at the time when cancer cells are most active. Dr. Ketterl, it turned out, is one of only four oncologists in the country practicing chronotherapy. She said she'd never applied this method to ovarian cancer, and she wanted to consult with a colleague before she consented.

After that consultation, she gave the go ahead, and I started six rounds of chemotherapy, three weeks apart. Dr. Ketterl was the only oncologist we spoke to who used the word "cure" in discussing my cancer. That, in itself, was hopeful. When I first saw her, my tumor markers were at 148. With each treatment, they dropped. After three treatments I was in the normal range at 23. On the morning of my last treatment, my tumor markers were at 9.4. Dr. Ketterl told me she'd never had a patient whose blood work had stayed so normal.

Now, I'll be back just for final evaluation and scans in November, and after that, just for check-ups.

I took advantage of everything CTCA offered; the nutrition, naturopathy and spiritual support were especially important to me. I've been very disciplined in following whatever they told me to do. And, if I've had a problem or question, I've telephoned, and they've responded right away and been very helpful.

But I give God all the glory for what He has done for me. He has faithfully woven things together beyond what even I could imagine. Who knew, besides Him, when we were doing our research, that the doctor I would get at CTCA was one of only a handful of oncologists in the country practicing the type of treatment God had shown us as something to consider in the research we did? Who knew, besides Him, that one of our family's good friends was also on staff at that facility and would make me feel even more at home? Who knew, besides Him, that what other physicians had indicated wasn't curable, was going to be cured? He has been amazing through all of this. He has been my rock, and I have stood on His character and His Word, for they never fail.

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