Shirley Williams

My name is Shirley Williams. I live in Valparaiso, Indiana. I was diagnosed with breast cancer a number of years ago. I had a lumpectomy. One lymph node was involved and I was told that I would have to have some chemotherapy because of that lymph node. My husband and I went to see an oncologist in our home town. I mentioned that I wanted to eat nutritiously during my treatments. He said he wasn’t educated in nutrition, knew nothing about nutrition and didn’t want to know anything about nutrition. As we walked out of his office I felt scared and not at peace. I did not feel that I was important to him.

I started praying to God in hopes that he would guide me in the right direction and tell me what to do. That night, while my husband was working the afternoon shift, I started flipping channels on the television. All at once, a man was talking about a cancer place. I perked my ears up, and an 800 number came across the screen. I hurried up and wrote the number down, so I could dial it the next day. I did call this number the next day. It was to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern). A representative of the center talked to me and said he was going to pray that I would come to them. He said that they not only treat the cancer, but the whole body. I got excited when I heard this. I couldn’t believe that there was such a place. This told me that CTCA really cares about the whole person.

The representative made all the arrangements for me, and I was at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in just a few days. When my husband and I walked into the center, we were treated with love. The people who work there are so friendly and helpful. They made us feel very warm and welcome, and made us feel that we were important to them. We also met many patients at CTCA whose prior doctors had sent them home to die. But, as we looked around us, we could see and feel a lot hope.

During my stay at CTCA we attended classes. Family and friends were welcome. We were taught about how important good nutrition is for a strong immune system. We learned that the mind and body connection (relaxation), attitude, spirituality and exercise play a very important role during cancer treatment. We learned a lot about ourselves, how to take care of ourselves and how to make changes in our lifestyle. These classes were very enjoyable. I tell people that God put me through college by sending me to CTCA.

After I finished my four treatments at CTCA, which took four months, I came home and looked around me. I did not see a support group or medical group that instructed cancer patients about caring for themselves like CTCA did. God nudged me to put together a support group here in my vicinity, to tell people about the principles of spiritual and physical health that I learned during my stay at CTCA. I started a focus group called "The Seven Pillars of Wellness". (The pillars have to do with our immune system and balance of life.) I am telling people what CTCA taught me as well as what I learned at seminars given by Dr. Patrick Quillin, and author of "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" and other books.

CTCA totally changed my life. My husband and I thank God every day and praise him for guiding us there. We thank him that there is a place for cancer patients to go and receive hope. I met wonderful and caring people like the Cancer Fighter Coordinator, and the nutritionist, who came to Valparaiso to speak to my focus group. It is wonderful for me to feel we are all part of a family who cares for each other. This is what CTCA is all about. Jim and I just want to say "Thank you, Cancer Treatment Centers of America."

Breast Cancer