Ivan Burrell

Fairview, OK

Colon Cancer Survivor

When I went in for surgery in December 2004, I thought I was having an appendectomy. The extreme pain I'd been experiencing in my side had been diagnosed as appendicitis. So, when the surgeon came out and told my wife that he'd gotten all the cancer, it wasn't the news we'd been expecting.

Cancer? What cancer? It was pretty devastating. We weren't prepared for that.

But it was cancer -- colon cancer -- and since then, I've had recurring, metastatic bouts with it. After my original oncologist had tried various types of chemotherapy with no success and seemed to think there was little hope for recovery, my wife and I decided to call Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). We'd seen the commercials and were looking for hope.

We'd overheard my oncologist calling a surgeon in Oklahoma City to talk about palliative surgery for me. We didn't like the sound of that. At CTCA, there's been no talk of surgery to just keep me comfortable and pain free. Dr. Pierre Greeff, my surgical oncologist, has fought the cancer with me. He told me he goes in to get the cancer out, or he doesn't go in at all.

Since coming to CTCA in March 2006, I've undergone multiple surgeries to remove the recurring cancer, and, most recently, I finished five weeks of radiation therapy. At this point, I'm recovering the strength and vitality I had pre-cancer.

Complicating my cancer care have been some additional medical conditions, including diabetes. But, at CTCA, I've been closely monitored through the hospital's accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) Program.

I'm a farmer/rancher raising alfalfa and Black Angus cattle on our 2500-acre family farm, and I'm busy. I work six days a week, often putting in 12-15 hour days. In addition, I'm a father and grandfather and very active in my church, where I serve on district and state boards and do volunteer construction at the church campgrounds.

Soon after I was diagnosed with cancer, I remember reading in a book written by a cancer survivor that in fighting cancer, the main thing besides your faith in God is to have a good, positive attitude. And without that, no matter how you treat the cancer, it's not going to work. And I think that's right.

I've been raised in the church. I believe in God's healing power. And I'm normally an upbeat person. I like to have fun, no matter what I do. But, with cancer, you do have to work at it. When you're alone, and it's just you and your thoughts, negative thoughts come at you. In these past four years, I've even planned my funeral a number of times in my head. But I know that's not a good place to keep my thoughts. So, when I recognize that I'm in the wrong frame of mind, I start to pray, read my Bible or I'll get a good inspirational book.

One of the ways I've seen God at work in my cancer journey has been through the Christian people the Lord has surrounded me with. I've got great support from my family, friends and church. I've got people praying for me all over the country. And, from the beginning, I've had believing doctors and nurses. Here at CTCA, it seems like everyone, from the people who clean, to those who drive you around, to the doctors and nurses, everyone is concerned and interested in you. They're all upbeat, cheerful and positive. And even if they havent seen me in months, I'm amazed at how many people call me by name when I come in for an appointment.

I believe to live well with something like cancer, it's important not to focus on the cancer, but to keep your thoughts on the Lord, and trust Him to do what He's capable of doing. I also believes it's important to have a healthy view of death. Death isn't the enemy. I want to live, but if I die, as a child of God, I have the hope of eternal life with the Lord ... something far greater to look forward to than even all I have here.