Pam Loeffler

I feel so blessed. Both my cancer journeys -- the medical one and the spiritual one -- have been wonderful. God took the opportunity of my cancer to get my attention and draw me into a deeper relationship with Him. He led me to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Tulsa for my medical treatment, which is like being at a resort with cancer as the focus, and for my spiritual life, which really grew and flourished there.

For me, this journey began early in 2008 when my dad was dying. I knew something wasn't right in my body but told myself it was just stress, and when the stress was gone, my body would be acting right. But that didn't happen. I went ahead and scheduled a colonoscopy for May but continued to deny I had a problem even though in my heart, I knew they'd find something. And they did.

The doctor couldn't have given me more devastating news following the colonoscopy. He told me I had a tumor, it looked cancerous, was probably late stage and probably metastized elsewhere. He then sent me for a PET scan. While we were awaiting results, my husband Tim and I went to City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles for a consultation. I didn't want to receive care locally. But at City of Hope, I felt rushed at the appointment and like I was on a cattle train.

Then a client of mine from my photography business called and said she'd seen CTCA advertised on television and had called them. She told me I should call and gave me the number. I did call and talked to an Oncology Information Specialist who told me she'd get everything set up for me to be seen. I told my husband to just humor me and that I wanted to go and see what it was all about. This was blind faith, as I hadn't seen any commercials and didn't know anything more than what I'd learned on my phone call.

A week later, we were in Tulsa. We knew the second day that CTCA was where I'd have my treatment done. It was a "no brainer." Not only was everything under one roof, saving me from long drives into, around and out of Los Angeles, looking for various offices for tests and appointments, but you got results back from tests right away and everyone was absolutely compassionate, friendly and caring. This was the exact opposite of what I'd been experiencing at home.

The PET scan I had at CTCA showed that my doctor at home had guessed in error. My cancer hadn't metastized. It was contained in the rectal area, and it wasn't late stage but probably Stage 2 or 3.

My treatment plan started with some chemo and six weeks of radiation to shrink the tumor before surgery. After six weeks of recovery from that, I was back for surgery in September. Tim and I had been hoping for a rectal-sparing procedure, but an ultrasound showed that where the tumor was located, that wasnt going to be possible. I was pretty well devastated.

We went to see one of the nurses in Education to talk about the upcoming colostomy and learn all we needed to know. But I was in shock. I just couldn't listen. Looking at my face, Tim asked the nurse if she could slow down a bit. She stopped talking and looked at me. She asked if I were a Christian. When I said yes, she asked if she could pray for me. And she did.

That was a turning point for me, when she prayed. All of a sudden, I could listen, ask questions, and I was open to it and to the reality that I'd be going through life with a colostomy bag.

When we left her office, I felt like God said, "Girl, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on." So, I did. And once I accepted it, there were no more tears, and I was perfectly fine. And, in actuality, it was probably easier wrapping my mind around that than around the fact that I'd be going through serious chemo after the surgery.

It was the end of December 2008 when I started chemo. I finished 10 rounds of it on May 12, one year to the day from my diagnosis day. In September 2009, my blood work was clear, and my tests all looked great.

I've had great medical care at CTCA and have seen God move in amazing ways in my life. He's been there with me through it all, and even made His presence known to me in many ways. One day, every time I turned around, another Psalm was hitting me in the face. Friends were sending them to me. They were coming to me from so many places. I finally looked up and said, "OK, God, I get it."

Through this cancer journey, I've really spent time talking to God in prayer, and He's answered my prayers. And I've been blessed by other patients and their families who are Christians here at CTCA, like Kathy Kelly and her husband Bob. They've influenced my walk with God. At CTCA, one of the things I've enjoyed is the fellowship with other people who have a strong faith in God. God is really at work at CTCA. Wherever you go there, you here people sharing their God stories. It blesses you, because this doesn't happen everywhere. When I'm away from CTCA, I really miss that fellowship going on.

I continue to photograph the military families for a predeployment session, already gone session or homecoming. I am really passionate about my volunteer work for Operation: Love Reunited, as it is just a small way I can give back to the military families who sacrifice so much for our country, whether it be a dad or mom going to Afghanistan or Iraq and having to leave the family back home or the mom or dad who is left behind to care for the family. Both sides are sacrificing relationships and home life. The homecomings are always teary, but very happy. 

I am busy with volunteer work as the photographer for Greyfoot Cat Rescue here in Ventura. I was volunteering for them prior to being diagnosed, and I'm back doing that again full steam! I enjoy my volunteer work and giving back to others. I also try to "pay it forward" any time I have the opportunity to help someone else going through cancer. It could be just giving them my perspective, being an ear to listen, or loaning a book out that I found helpful. For those that have been diagnosed, just knowing a survivor gives them hope.

My personal physician here in town has always had patients resistent to getting their routine colonoscopy, and she now uses my testimony for her patients and no longer has issues with them getting their colonoscopy. I told her it's all worth everything I went through to know others are now listening to her.

I'm now a VIP (Volunteer in Policing) with the Ventura Police Department. I took their classes last summer and have been patrolling with a partner now for six months! We wear a uniform with badge, name tag, the whole thing - NO firearm!! We're called to respond to non-injury accidents, situations where traffic control is required, check parking lots for handicap parking adherence, vacation checks, etc. We're required to only put in 16 hours a month, but I usually end up with more then that. I also volunteer two hours a week in the K-9 Storefront in our local mall. Who would have ever thought I'd be doing this?!

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