Cancer Treatment

My story

Kathleen Houlihan
My cancer journey with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) began almost 13 years ago. I initially went to CTCA because I liked the idea of nutritional counseling as part of my treatment for advanced lung cancer. I have remained with CTCA for all my treatment and checkups because I have total confidence in the quality of care I receive there and because they always offer me hope.

In March 1999, at the age of 51, I was diagnosed with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer, stage IIIB adenocarcinoma, in my left lung. I was shocked and terrified. I had smoked for many years but had quit in ‘91. I couldn’t believe I had lung cancer eight years later. I immediately began to research my options and look into facilities for treatment. I spoke with a friend who told me about CTCA, a cancer hospital where oncologists worked together with naturopaths and other treatment providers. My husband Holt Truex, who is a pediatrician, went online to learn more about CTCA. He also called and spoke with Sharon, an Oncology Information Specialist at the CTCA hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CTCA was able to verify that my insurance was approved and that I could be treated there. They also handled arrangements for plane tickets and doctors’ appointments for my first trip to CTCA.

When I arrived at the hospital in Tulsa, I had tests done. Thank goodness they showed the cancer had not spread anywhere else. I started treatment immediately—external beam radiation twice a day and low-dose chemo once a week to enhance the radiation. My joints hurt from the cancer, and I was so fatigued from the radiation treatment that I pretty much wanted to sleep all the time. But it was OK. I had no responsibilities other than to get well. Meals were provided and my dear husband did everything else, including laundry. All I absolutely had to do was go to meals, radiation treatments, chemo, and doctors’ appointments. Optional activities I worked in between naps included going to classes on nutrition, naturopathy, stress management and humor therapy. I kept my friends and family posted via email, and at Holt's urging, kept taking my daily walks. Once I got moving, my joints felt better, and I believe staying active contributed to my recovery. Keeping up with my vitamins also helped. It was a full schedule, but all focused on my recovery. I can’t imagine what life would have been like if I had stayed at home, trying to deal with meals, laundry and dogs, all in addition to traveling 60 miles round trip every day to the treatment center nearest to my home in Española, New Mexico. Being at CTCA was much better.

We were in Tulsa for seven weeks for tests and treatment. After that, we went back for chemo one week a month for five months. By my last round of chemo in October ‘99, my CEA tumor marker was in the normal range (1.5, down from 66 in March) and my tumor had shrunk down to 2.5 cm. Six months later, my tumor was gone! It had shrunk away to a scar. My life was returning to normal.

Commentary - Kathleen Houlihan was diagnosed with lung cancer. Once she found out her and her husband did everything they could for her to cure. It was certain stuff she can eat and couldnt. She had to go to treatments and go out of town to see special cancer doctors. She started excercising and walking daily and her last week of chemo she had a tumor that was 2.5 cm and seven months later it was only a scar. And her life was back to normal.