Breast Cancer Survivor Anne Zittlow of St. Cloud
Celebrates Life® At Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
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Joins Fellow Five-Year Cancer Survivors in Tree-Planting Ceremony
Zion, Illinois – June 5, 2009 – Anne Zittlow returned to Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) in suburban Chicago today to celebrate her five years as a breast cancer survivor. Zittlow was joined by doctors, hospital administration and the clinical support team in a tree-planting ceremony in her honor. Five doves were released at the conclusion of the event to commemorate each year of her fighting survival.
When Zittlow, 55 of St. Cloud, Minnesota was diagnosed with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in 2004, she already knew where she would go to get her treatment. “I came to CTCA for the integrated care approach, a confident team of people to care for me and to have a pastor to pray for me,” she remembers. After losing her father and sister to cancer, Zittlow was eager to take advantage of every possible healing tool available.
Zittlow’s treatment plan consisted of a bilateral mastectomy followed by chemotherapy delivered in four fractionated doses. Her treatment protocol also included nutritional and naturopathic support, mind-body therapy, physical therapy and spiritual support to help her fight the disease on all fronts, manage her treatment side effects and maintain quality of life.
“I was happy to have the complementary medicine at my fingertips. It isn’t offered everywhere but I think it made a difference in how fast I healed,” she said. Now, as a cancer survivor for five years, Zittlow’s advice to other patients is simple, “Go one step at a time to fit your needs and have it be a positive experience. Go after it like you would treat a business. Do it and go on!” she said.
Today, Zittlow still travels nearly 450 miles for her yearly checkups at CTCA. She is an active participant in her church, singing in the Great River Chorale and regularly attending the women’s bible studies known as ‘OASIS’. Zittlow also enjoys reading, gardening and shopping with friends
. Zittlow remarks ‘how sweet it is’ that “It’s been five years. It’s good to be alive and have the support of CTCA to lift me up!”
This year, 104 CTCA patients are celebrating their five-year triumph over cancer at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center. “At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we surround each patient with a multidisciplinary care team that is designed to meet their individual needs,” said Anne Meisner, president and CEO at CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center. “Our team provides state of the art treatment protocols with fully integrated complementary therapies. We empower our patients to help them take control of their cancer and every patient is treated as though they were a member of our own family. We are so proud of our celebrants and honored to acknowledge and celebrate their journey and continued success,” she added.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals providing a comprehensive, fully integrative approach to cancer treatment. CTCA serves patients with advanced cancer from all 50 states at facilities located in suburban Chicago, Philadelphia, Tulsa and suburban Phoenix. For more information about Cancer Treatment Centers of America, go to cancercenter.com.
