Everyone's journey with cancer is unique. Sometimes, the paths that others take can inspire, engage and inform us about our own situations and lives. With the help of Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, these brave people looked cancer in the face and defied it with their hearts, minds and bodies. Their stories are filled with information, encouragement and hope-the key ingredients in a recipe for a successful fight against cancer.

In addition to the following stories, click here to read newspaper and broadcast stories about Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center.

Couple finds strength and hope when cancer strikes twice
Terry Kelly doesn’t know why he’s alive seven years after doctors discovered a softball-sized tumor in his lungs. He’s not sure why he survived advanced lung cancer when so many don’t, but he’s grateful. Because five years later, his wife, Jodee, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that had spread through her stomach and colon. She had supported and cared for him during his battle with the disease. Now it was his turn. Click here for the rest of the story.

  

"Fabric Hugs" Bring Comfort to SCTWC's Patients
Quilters and their loved ones are familiar with the detail that goes into creating timeless works of art, and receiving a handmade quilt is like accepting a gift of love, a "fabric hug." On Saturday, April 25th, 2009, the patients of Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center were the lucky recipients of 33 fabric hugs, donated generously by International quilting group, QuiltPocket. The quilters descended upon the Renton-Holiday Inn for 3 days, armed with fabric swatches, sewing machines and giddy anticipation. Click here for the rest of the story.

  

Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center patient Ric Landvatter feels a special connection to professional cyclist and cancer survivor, Lance Armstrong. Landvatter says he feels tremendous peace and truly wants to share his joy for life with others. That's why Landvatter and friends will follow Lance Armstrong's comeback from retirement to compete in the Tour de France, July 2009. Click here to read Ric's story.


Ruth and Jim Miller had been looking forward to a retirement filled with travel and family, with time to spare for antiquing and civic and political involvement, when one of the deadliest of cancers caught them by surprise. Click here to read Ruth's story.





Sally Bozich, a colon cancer patient who was initially given months to live, credits her unexpected longevity to the Center's blend of innovative oncology with complementary therapies, including naturopathy, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. It also helps to have a good attitude and sense of humor. Click here to read Sally's story.



Lung cancer patient gets second opinion . . . and second chance at life
Her first oncologist told Donna Peterson she had two to six months to live. End of discussion. Shocked members of the Bellingham woman's family, who had come to the appointment with her, asked if there wasn't something, anything Donna could do to fight her lung cancer and prolong her life. Click here to read Donna's story.


Cancer survivor to share her story as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail
It wasn't the cancer that scared Sharon Farber. It was the cure. The former hospice nurse had seen so many people devastated by chemotherapy that she ignored the lump in her breast for a year and almost avoided treatment after she found out it was cancer. Fortunately, the 62-year-old Puyallup woman found Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center.
Click here to read Sharon's story.

Salem woman fights deadliest cancer from multiple treatment fronts
Upon learning that she had pancreatic cancer, 57-year-old Patricia Elwood said, "I'm not done." She and her family refused to give up hope. Their research and questions led them to Dr. Ben Chue at Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, Click here to read Patricia's story.

 

Jean Colman swears by her simple anti-cancer diet
Making diet part of your strategy to fight cancer doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. Jean Colman eats lots of fruits and vegetables to help her body withstand her annual chemotherapy treatments and fight her slow-growing cancer. But she doesn't count calories or much else. She and naturopathic physician Mark Gignac offer practical tips on how to eat healthy the simple way, without math. Click here to read more of Jean's story.


Aaron Barrett's pancreatic cancer leads to study of new treatment
When Aaron Barrett first came to Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, he had to be wheeled in on a stretcher. He's now living at home, exercising regularly and inspiring others to beat the pancreatic cancer odds. Dr. Ben Chue describes how Aaron's cancer treatment led to a promising new protocol. Click here to read more of Aaron's story.



Kathy Lingo gets a handle on stress
The year leading up to Kathy Lingo's diagnosis of breast cancer was filled with grief and emotional pressure. But she learned to reduce stress and help her body fight her life-threatening disease. Social worker and Director of Mind-Body Medicine Robin Adler offers tips to help patients relax and work on healing during this most stressful of times. Click here to read more.



Linda Clark finds hope in promising pancreatic cancer treatment
When Linda Clark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given a dire prognosis, she refused to give in to anything but hope. And that's what she found with Dr. Ben Chue, an oncologist at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center. Chue's experimental treatment and its success with Clark has given her new hope. Over a year later, Clark still travels to Seattle weekly for cancer treatments. She has goals and plans to go back to school to start a new career. Click here to read more of Linda's story.


Ellen Chung chooses to live life one day at a time
A positive outlook can make a big difference in the effect of cancer treatments. While some might see a cancer diagnosis as the end, Ellen Chung leaped forward and discovered the joys of gardening, baking and sewing. Her attitude has kept her sanguine in the face of lung cancer and allowed her to find new pleasures in life. Click here to read more of Ellen's story.



Jeannie Dews shares her story of faith
For survivors, sharing experiences can be as good for the speaker as it is for the audience. Her former doctors had gently suggested Jeannie Dews forego painful treatments and enjoy what time she had left. But her faith, her friends and her team at the Clinic helped her rekindle her hope. Now she's sharing her story to inspire hope in others. Click a href="jeanniedews.html"> here to read more of Jeannie's story.



Dave Matthews beats the odds and finds hope
When one doctor told Dave Matthews that even with chemotherapy, his life expectancy could be measured in months, Matthews search for second opinions led him to the Clinic. He began cancer treatment and complimentary therapies that gave him another powerful ally against his disease-hope. Click here to read more of Dave's story.



Cate Koler uses varied arsenal in her cancer battle
On every level, Cate Koler equates fighting cancer to being a warrior. When she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she thought it imperative to enter the battle with a diverse arsenal of weapons. She found that at the Clinic, where she was able to combine oncology with complementary therapies. The latter helped her avoid the sometimes debilitating side effects that often accompany chemotherapy. Click here to read more of Cate's story.


Kevin Dixey defies a dismal diagnosis to become a dad
Kevin Dixey refused to accept a dismal cancer diagnosis that called for the removal of his bladder and prostate. His determination to find alternatives-and leave his fertility intact-led him to the Clinic, which treated him without radical surgery. He is now cancer-free and a father. Click here to read more of Kevin's story.



Colleen Webster learns to be the pilot of her own care
Over a 10-year period, Colleen Webster walked away from a string of doctors who frowned at her insistence on participating in her own care. She found a decidedly different attitude at the Clinic, where professionals not only accepted her involvement, they encouraged it. Click a href="colleenwebster.html"> here to read more of Colleen's story.



Crystal Sholin finds support through long-distance cancer treatment
Support from family and friends can make a huge difference in the success of patients undergoing cancer treatment, particularly if that treatment is hundreds of miles away. Crystal Sholin's family made her long-distance care possible. The comfort of knowing her children were in good hands enabled Crystal to travel to Seattle to get the kind of care she couldn't find at home in Alaska. Click here to read more of Crystal's story.


Milton Nazarenus turns to natural therapy
Milton Nazarenus didn't want to go the traditional chemotherapy route. He saw Clinic naturopathic physician Paul Reilly, who put him on a diet that favored fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and nuts. Milton stuck to the diet as well as a regimen of cancer-fighting herbs and supplements, including vitamins A and C to boost immunity. His tumors started to shrink. Click here to read more of Milton's story.


Deanna Carnie fights back the second time around
After beating colon cancer in 1996, Deanna Carnie faced cancer again just six years later. This time it was in her uterus and had reached a life-threatening stage. She began treatments at the Clinic that combined fractionated-dose chemotherapy with nutrition, vitamins, herbal therapy and exercise. Click here to read more of Deanna's story.