Colorectal Cancer Survivors

Colorectal cancer survivors at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) have a story to tell. In this section, you will read the first-hand accounts of colon cancer survivors who used the courage within, and the strength of a care team, to fight the disease. These stories of survival will inspire you, so keep reading.

What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon. The colon is part of the body’s gastrointestinal (digestive) system. The digestive system removes water and nutrients from food and helps pass waste material out of the body. The colon is the longest part of the large intestine. Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids). In many cases, colon cancers develop slowly over a period of several years.

To learn more about colon cancer and the integrative colon cancer treatment options available at CTCA, visit our Colon Cancer Center.

CTCA Colon Cancer Survival Stories

Learn about what makes CTCA different and how we can help you fight colon cancer. Read on and these courageous survivors will share with you how they battled colon cancer with the help of CTCA.

Darlene Kipling

“In 1990 I became an employee of Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Southwestern Regional Medical Center. I worked as an RN, busily giving chemo and looking after our patients. I never even gave a thought to the fact that one day I might be one of the patients dealing with cancer.”

Read Darlene’s Colon Cancer Survivor Story

Joe Barnes

“When we arrived at the CTCA hospital in Zion, Illinois we quickly noticed differences in my care. One of the first things CTCA did was ordered a CT scan, bone scan and address my nutritional issues. The clinic where I had been previously treated hadn’t even acknowledged the weight loss as a problem.”

Read Joe's Colon Cancer Survivor Story

Linda Fairchild

"I finally agreed to go to CTCA. When I told my oncologist this, he was first against it but then said I should go because he couldn't do anything more for me. I was now handed a note saying he believed I would never work again and I had a limited life span. I was so grateful at this point to have set up my appointment at CTCA, but I was scared.”

Read Linda’s Colon Cancer Survivor Story

Roger Aldis

If Roger Aldis did not have a brother who was a physician’s assistant, he probably would not have gone to the doctor as soon as he did. In early 2004 he noticed some blood after a bowel movement and didn’t know what to think of it. He mentioned it to his brother, who in turn had urgent advice.

Read Roger’s Colon Cancer Survivor Story

Willis Deuser

“Each day I went to the hospital for my chemotherapy treatments. Some days I felt really sick. But the friendliness of the staff was so helpful, especially how they explained everything. Throughout my treatment, the staff kept a very careful record of my blood work. The doctors and nurses always knew what was going with me. I felt like I had my own personal care plan.”

Read Willis’s Colon Cancer Survivor Story

Tom Reese

"When I first went into Cancer Treatment Centers of America, I felt this is a place of life, definitely a place of hope. And that’s what I needed more than anything. And I realized I could be a survivor. They took additional time with me. They wanted to be absolutely certain that they took care of everything I needed."

Watch Tom's Colon Cancer Survivor Commercial

Read Tom’s Colon Cancer Survivor Story