Jerry Bradshaw

I was born the eldest of four children in North Carolina's Sampson County in 1951. I've lived in Sampson County all my life and have worn many hats during this time. I have and continue to be a volunteer with the Clinton-Sampson Rescue and EMS for 33 years. I'm also a Deputy with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office and a member of the Clinton-Sampson County Rotary Club where I've held a perfect attendance record since 1992. These positions require a great deal of communication.

In the summer of 2003, my voice became hoarse. I've had sinus and allergy problems in the past and decided the sinus/allergy problem, along with the constant use of my voice, was causing the hoarseness. The hoarseness didn't go away with over-the-counter allergy and sinus medications, so I went to see a local physician. I was given a complete physical. It was decided that I had bronchitis, and antibiotics were prescribed.

About this same time, my wife and I took a three-week vacation to Florida to visit with family. My voice seemed to clear up while in Florida, so I assumed the antibiotics were working. A few weeks after I returned to Sampson County, my voice again became very hoarse. I never had any pain with the hoarseness or any other symptoms. By then, the summer was gone and the sinus/allergy problem should have cleared up. My voice was to the point of a bare whisper. I made a visit to the ear, nose and throat doctor who had recently opened an office in nearby Clinton. The doctor advised me of a growth on my vocal cord. After having a biopsy, I was advised on Nov. 17, 2003 that I had cancer.

I was given the option of surgery, which would mean with almost certainty I would no longer have my voice. I was also advised I could have radiation treatments. My family and I weren't satisfied with these options and decided to make some inquiries and get some other opinions. I returned to work, and my wife decided to make some phone calls. A friend of hers went onto the Internet and pulled up some information on cancer treatment centers. She gave my wife the number for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. My wife called and explained to Harry, an Oncology Information Specialist, the type of cancer I had and the options we were given by the doctors I had seen. He advised my wife that other options were available at CTCA. My wife then called me with CTCA's phone number and told me I needed to call. (Sometimes it pays to listen to your wife-glad I did this time).

Harry's comparison to the real world was that if the transmission went out on your car, you would take it to a transmission specialist instead of an alternator repair shop; the cancer center deals with cancer 24 hours a day, seven days a week, therefore more options were available, and I was entitled to a second opinion. Harry explained that there are three centers and told me the locations of the centers. We discussed the expenses of going to one of the centers and how I would be able to afford to go. Harry asked about my insurance information and stated he would check with the insurance company's benefits department to see what would be covered. Harry called me back and said my insurance would pay for me to come to one of the centers for a consultation. He asked when I could come and, of course, I was ready to go immediately. We decided to go to Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Harry said he'd have someone call us from Tulsa in reference to making travel arrangements.

They contacted me with arrangements in just a few hours. My wife and I were scheduled to fly out of the Raleigh Durham airport on Dec. 1. We arrived in Tulsa, and were met at the airport by a driver from the center. This driver put us at ease immediately. He talked to us in route to the center and explained a little about the hospital. I told my wife that if the other people we'd be dealing with at the center were anything like the driver, we were definitely where we needed to be. I can't explain it, but I had such a strong feeling that the Lord pointed us in the direction of CTCA, and that everything would be okay.

When we arrived at CTCA, arrangements had been made for a room for us to stay. We began to see the doctors Dec. 2. After meeting with all the doctors, it was determined I would not be a candidate for the laser surgery, and the best path of treatment would be a combination of radiation and chemo. While the doctors were sure they could take care of the cancer, there was concern that I'd ever have use of my vocal cord again because it was now paralyzed and, once this happens, it seldom goes back to vibrating.

I was at CTCA from Dec. 1-Jan. 28. I received six chemo treatments and 33 radiation treatments. During this time, my mother, daughter and several other family members and friends were allowed to come to the center. We were all grateful for the informative classes regarding nutrition, treatments, spiritual healing and everything involved in the center's treatment of cancer.

We've always been a church-going family and believe in God's power to heal. While at CTCA, my wife and I attended Victory Christian Center, a nearby church. They asked if anyone wanted prayer for healing, and I raised my hand. An elderly woman in front of me prayed for me, and then told me, "Son, you now have to stand on your faith that you've been healed." And I decided to do that. Other people prayed with us as well, including Pastoral Staff at CTCA, as well as people in other parts of the country and world. It was wonderful knowing we were supported there spiritually.

The treatment of the whole person, mind and body and spirit, is essential to successfully treating cancer, and this isn't available to most people in their local areas. You can feel it in the atmosphere at CTCA, this is a different place from your ordinary hospital. There is a positive attitude all the way through.

Another important factor for me was the ability to talk with and see other patients and hear their testimony concerning their time at the center and their years of survival after treatment. And, as I stated earlier, I'm a member of the Rotary Club, with a perfect attendance record since joining the club in 1992. While at CTCA, I was able to attend meetings with the Tulsa Green Country Rotary Club; therefore, I still have my perfect attendance record that has always been a source of pride for me. Transportation also took me to church services and classes, whenever I wanted to go.

I went home on Jan. 28, 2004, hoarse, but standing on faith that God would return to me the use of my vocal cord, something I had to have for the work I did. I returned to CTCA on Feb. 29 for a follow up. On March 2, Dr. Scott Cordray advised me the tumor was gone, and my vocal cord was showing some vibration. He and I both agreed that this was caused not only by the treatments but also because of the many prayers from family, old friends and the new friends I'd made while at CTCA. After my visit with Dr. Cordray, I met with Dr. Brunk, and, after some discussion, it was decided that as a precaution, I would undergo five more chemo treatments on a four-week rotation schedule. I took the first treatment while there for the follow up. I've been back to CTCA every four weeks until the five treatments were completed.

I've been able to return to my job as a Sampson County Sheriff's Deputy and also resumed my duties as Director of the Clinton Sampson Rescue and EMS. My voice has returned to very close to normal (although I was forewarned at CTCA prior to treatment that my voice may not show improvement!).

CTCA made my ordeal with cancer more bearable for my family, friends and me. I've never met more loving and compassionate people as the ones at CTCA. Friends in my hometown of Clinton are amazed at the outcome of my stay at CTCA. I offer testimony to the center at every opportunity. I thank God every day for pointing me in the direction of the Cancer Treatment Center and for the doctors and everyone involved in my treatment.

I believe God was at work in my journey to CTCA long before I was diagnosed with cancer. My parents gave faithfully for many years to Oral Roberts and his City of Faith project, the towers where CTCA was located for many years in Tulsa. When I was looking to make a job change in 2001 and the job at the Sheriff's Department opened, even though I'd taken a cut in pay to accept the position and had worried about that, it was the county insurance there which allowed me to take advantage of CTCA. Who would have thought that my changing jobs and being in a financial bind for a while, was part of the big picture? God was definitely in my trip to CTCA.

Words are really inadequate to describe how blessed my family and I feel to have had the opportunity to make such wonderful new friends at CTCA, and we look forward to returning to celebrate MY FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS A SURVIVOR!!

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