Joe Barnes, Jr.

For many years, I’ve worked hard at my job with the water department in Seattle. My wife, Cydney, has never known me to tire easily, but in June 2004, I started losing my appetite, my energy disappeared and my weight started dropping off. My wife knew something was wrong! She made a doctor’s appointment for me and the doctor ordered blood work and a CT scan. The CT scan showed cancer, but my family doctor wanted me to see a gastroenterologist. Through the efforts of my doctor’s office and my wife I was blessed to get in to see the doctor the next day. A colonoscopy was done and it was confirmed there was cancer in the colon and liver. My surgery was scheduled for the following week.

A surgeon in Seattle removed the tumor and I started my first round of chemotherapy. As is often the case, the spouse of the patient is the one who starts learning all they can about the type of cancer and the treatments available. Cydney was already knowledgeable of many aspects of health care and she became concerned that my oncologist was only thinking about chemotherapy and was not addressing my nutritional needs. I lost over 60 lbs. and she was afraid of malnutrition!

Cydney referred to a directory of natural medicine providers and noticed Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) listed, then a friend mentioned CTCA might be an option for me. It wasn’t until she saw a television commercial about CTCA in September that she decided to call for a second opinion. 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.

The report from the bone scan discovered that my cancer had metastasized to the liver and bone. Now my wife and I feel confident that they know the full extent of my disease and that I am getting the best treatment available.

After the initial treatment plan and first round of treatment was completed at CTCA, I started receiving my follow-up chemotherapy treatments at CTCA’s facility in Seattle – Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center. In addition to medical oncology, I also receive acupuncture and see a Naturopathic Doctor.

Today, I am feeling better than I have in a long time. My wife, family and friends are pleased to have confidence in my doctors and see improvement.

My wife was so impressed with CTCA, she became a member of the Cancer Fighter program. She encourages everyone who has a loved one or who has been diagnosed with cancer to call CTCA and speak with an Oncology Information Specialist.

Colorectal Cancer