Darlene Kipling

<< All Colorectal Cancer Survivors

Watch Darlene 's Video Testimonial

In 1990 I became an employee of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center. I worked as a 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. In December 1993, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. That next year, 1994, proved to be very stormy. I had two bowel resections and was off work for the next 10 months.

I have told so many patients that CTCA not only treats patients like royalty, but that they also treat the staff the same way. I had been off for 10 months, very ill and then ready to come back to work, when CTCA told me, "We want you back. You can come in even two hours a day. We just want you to come back to work." I came back and was soon working full time.

In 1996, I left my office to have a routine mammogram. They found something suspicious on the film. This turned out to be malignant. I was once again treated at CTCA in a wonderful, compassionate manner. A few days after my mastectomy, my doctor called me and said the chest X-ray showed a tumor on the left lower lobe of my lung. He told me to come in for a CT scan. I was devastated. I said, "Give me a few days." Those few days proved miraculous. My daughter took me to a service at Oral Roberts' campus. There I received prayer for the healing of this tumor. At the beginning of the next week, I had the CT scan. The following day I received the results: no tumor, CT scan clear. The clinic was buzzing with the news.

I am now many years out from colon cancer and breast cancer. I am perfectly well. I work full time as an RN care manager for CTCA. I have had great care and am a huge advocate for CTCA. I recruit as many patients as possible to come in for treatment.

I am sold on CTCA as a patient, and also as a very happy employee. I've had the same oncologist for all these long years and he is a brilliant and compassionate doctor. I am forever grateful for the outstanding care I have received both as a patient and employee of CTCA.

April 22, 2008

I am pleased to be able to tell you I am well and enjoying life in semi-retirement. I continue to work part time at CTCA in Tulsa as a care manager (RN). I am so pleased to be able to still see some of my patients that I have been caring for, for many years. They stop me in the hallway or cafeteria to let me know that they still view the commercial for CTCA that I was in about five or six years ago.

I spent three months in Canada last summer and plan to do the same this year. I was born and raised in Canada and came to Tulsa, Oklahoma 22 years ago.

I have had more time to pursue my love of music. I am a musician and keyboard player. Also, I have done more conference and retreat speaking, which is another part of my life which has brought me joy and happiness over many, many years.

I continue to receive excellent oncology care at CTCA in Tulsa. Dr. Sagun Shrestha is my oncologist. She is a kind, compassionate and very competent physician who is loved by all of her patients.