Breast Cancer Survivor Peggy Thompson of Townsend
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 – Peggy Thompson 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. Thompson 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.
Thompson, a 65-year-old resident of Townsend, Montana was diagnosed with a rare form of early stage breast cancer that presented only in her lymph nodes after finding a lump under her arm while applying antiperspirant. As she began to pursue her various treatment options, she was contacted by a former high-school classmate who had heard of Thompson’s diagnosis and recommended that she pursue a medical opinion at CTCA in Zion, more than 2,400 miles from Townsend. A few days later, Thompson had arrived in Zion for a second opinion.
“What I loved about Zion was that you knew the same day or next day what your test results were. I was used to at least a week or two, so that was very refreshing,” she remembers.
Thompson’s treatment plan consisted of 54 radiation treatments, including 13 Tomotherapy® treatments followed by chemotherapy. Her multidisciplinary care team included a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, nutritionist, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist and chaplain to help fight the disease on all fronts.
Now, after being a cancer survivor of five years, Thompson’s advice to other patients is simple, “You need a second opinion and there’s no getting around it…it is important enough to travel thousands of miles…whatever it takes,” she said.
Thompson enjoys watching the new life that comes into the family ranch every spring, including calves, colts and puppies. She maintains a plentiful vegetable garden and appreciates the beauty in the wilderness that surrounds them. She co-manages the ranch with her husband and high school sweetheart Jim, who stayed closely by her side throughout her cancer battle. Thompson also enjoys cheering on her four grandchildren who are all very active and involved in sports.
Thompson remarks ‘how sweet it is’ to "be alive today. It feels great and I am so grateful for all that I have!”
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.
