Randy Merriken
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My name is Randy Merriken and I've been a victor over non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for many years. My experience with Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center (Southwestern) began in July of 1996, when I saw my doctor (Dr. Brunk) for the first time. My struggle against cancer began several years earlier, though.
When I first noticed the "knot" in my abdomen in the summer of 1993, I wondered if there might be something serious going on, but I didn't see a doctor about it. I didn't want to be a "hypochondriac". I work in a hospital laboratory and since I'm around disease all the time I try not to worry about every bump or bruise I might see. Finally, about a year and a half after I first noticed the knot, I went to see him for a minor thing and then I used the "Oh, by the way, while I'm here·" line. He checked me out and sent me to a surgeon who ordered a CT of my abdomen to diagnose me. Three days after my CT I had a biopsy to confirm the lymphoma diagnosis.
In 1995, I went through a 5 month course of traditional chemotherapy in my hometown of Charleston, WV. My CT's looked good, but my doctors told me that this type of cancer is "easily controlled, but rarely cured". The average life expectancy for the advanced lymphoma, which I was fighting, was 3-5 years. The standard protocol is to treat it, then "watch and wait" until you have to treat it again. This involves stronger and stronger drugs until nothing else is available. (I didn't like the sound of that!)
A little over a year after I finished my chemotherapy I felt like the tumor was growing again and my CT scan confirmed my suspicions. My oncologist told me that if he were the patient he wouldn't necessarily get treatment again just yet. I wanted to be more aggressive than that so I went looking for a second opinion. I was given some information about the importance of nutrition at Southwestern and it sounded encouraging, so I called the toll free number. The folks at CTCA did all the legwork for me. They called my insurance company, then called me back and explained the plan. I made an appointment to see my doctor for an evaluation in July of 1996.
God is the great orchestrator of my healing, and I began asking Him to give my doctor wisdom for my treatment, even before my first appointment. My prayers (and those hundreds of others) were answered wonderfully! At CTCA, I found a host of caring people. The nutrition aspect of my treatment in incomparable, including an improved diet and an immune-stimulating supplement package. The Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) or "Mind Body Connections" program, is an important part of my care. There are encouraging people everywhere - housekeeping, pastoral care, patient relations, guest room services, and on and on!
My doctor used a more aggressive treatment plan for me which involves a maintenance dose of oral medication to keep the lymphoma under control. He's had patients like me on this program for 10 years. I expect to keep getting good reports. I don't know what the future holds, but my Father does and that's all I need to know! God is good and I'm glad CTCA was part of His plan for me.