Survivor - Carolee Murphy

I went through my treatments five years ago, so I was one of the first patients at the Shaw Center.  For anyone who’s had cancer, you know that five years is a significant milestone – they’ve actually used the word “cured” with me!

My cancer was relatively rare and totally unexpected.  There’s no history of any cancer in my family at all.  When I was first diagnosed, I was given two phone numbers – one for treatment center in Grand Junction, Colorado and the other for the newly-opened Shaw Center.

I called the Shaw first.  After I spoke to Dr. Hardenbergh, I never even bothered to call the other center.  She just instilled such confidence in me that she could get the job done that I felt completely comfortable going to the Shaw Center.

I went through both chemo and radiation therapy.  One of things that really sticks out in my mind was the feeling of family that I got from everyone there.  They all just took me in and said “We’ll make you better.”  And I wasn’t just a number to them.  They all knew me by name and treated me like a person, not a patient.  I actually ended up in the Aspen hospital during my treatments and Dr. Hardenbergh and Vanessa, one of the technicians, came over to visit me.  Purely a social call, just to keep in touch.  To me, that exemplifies what the Shaw Center is all about.

I’m convinced I made the right choice with the Shaw Center – I’ve never looked back.

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