Survivor - George Chumbley

When I was first diagnosed with the tumor in my tonsils, my Ear/Nose/Throat surgeon referred me to a cancer specialist in Denver.  We talked over the options for treatments and for places to have the treatments done.  I had looked at center in Denver, but my doc actually recommended the Shaw Center in Edwards.  He said it was brand-new, state-of-the-art, and they’d recruited top talent from around the country – there wasn’t anything in Denver that couldn’t be done at the Shaw.  Plus, it was a lot closer to my home – about 40 minutes away versus over an hour or so to Denver.

The tumor came out pretty easily with the surgery, and then I had seven weeks of radiation treatments to make sure all the cancer cells were gone. 

From the minute I walked into the Shaw Center, I was treated exceptionally well.  The doctors, technicians, nurses - to a person, they’re all just nice, caring, people.  And I think that makes a huge difference in how well your treatment goes.  Patient attitude plays a big role in attacking the disease and they definitely help you keep the right frame of mind. 

The Shaw Center also brings in resources from the Vail Valley Medical Center to help with all the aspects of treatment.  People like dieticians and counselors make things go a lot easier as well.

The Shaw Center building itself is a very comfortable and comforting place to get treatments.  It’s got water features, stone, hardwood floors, relaxing furniture and lighting.  Everything’s conducive to aiding in treatment and supporting the mental process that you need to get through.  It’s all designed to put the patient at ease and help them to heal faster. 

Overall, I got some lucky breaks.  I received great treatment and made some wonderful friends.  In fact, Brad Austin, who was my oncology nurse, has become one of my closest friends.  Looking back, I can’t imagine having gone through this anywhere else.

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