Lung Cancer Survivor Betty Lansdown of Hartville Celebrates Life at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® Midwestern Regional Medical Center

ZION, IL (June 10, 2011) – Betty Lansdown, a lung cancer survivor, attended  Celebrate Life^® 2011 at Cancer Treatment Centers of America^® (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (at Midwestern) -- an inspirational and extraordinary celebration of five years of cancer survivorship.

Lansdown, 64, of Hartville, MO nearly 100 other five-year survivors were joined by doctors, hospital administrators, clinical team members, caregivers and family members for a tree-planting ceremony, a luncheon and reception, and a Celebrate Life 2011 Survivorship Ceremony.

CTCA at Midwestern planted 204 trees in Lake County, Illinois adding to what has fast become a thriving forest where one tree has been planted for every CTCA five-year cancer survivor.

 The celebrants’ luncheon included delicious gourmet offerings of natural and organic foods, which are a critical part of the CTCA patient treatment protocol.  White doves were released at the conclusion of the event to commemorate each year of cancer-fighting survival. 

On Memorial Day Weekend of 2006, Lansdown found out that she had lung cancer that had metastasized to her lower throat and lymph nodes behind her breast bone. She was encouraged by her aunt and uncle to seek treatment at CTCA; her uncle, Loman Matlock, was treated at CTCA at Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa for prostate cancer.

After traveling 450 miles from Hartville to Zion and meeting her care team, which included Dennis Citrin, MD, medical oncologist, Lansdown began a very aggressive treatment regimen. She received chemotherapy treatments every three weeks for three days at a time, followed by 35 radiation treatments. Betty's integrative treatment plan included evidence-based supportive therapies including nutrition and naturopathic support to treat the whole person.

“There has been no sign of cancer for five years,” says Lansdown.  “Everybody was friendly and helpful. I have a good feeling when I think about the hospital and look forward to going back for follow up every year.”

Lansdown, who was born and raised near Mansfield, MO, says her husband never allowed her to be down during treatment. “Cancer gives you a new perspective on life. Fighting cancer is something you have to do…you have to believe you will make it!” says Lansdown.

Lansdown, who is retired, enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, gardening, and playing on the computer.

 “At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, cancer patients and their families benefit from a fully integrated, personalized cancer treatment experience called Patient Empowered Care^SM, which includes state-of the art treatment protocols and complementary therapies delivered by an Empowerment Team of cancer experts,” said Anne Meisner, president and CEO at CTCA at Midwestern.  “We empower our patients to take control of their cancer, and we treat each patient as though they are a member of our own family.  We are extremely proud of our celebrants and honored to acknowledge and celebrate their journey and continued success,” she added.

CTCA at Midwestern is also celebrating the launch of its new 7-Day Clinic, and its receipt of the 2011 HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™.  A true innovation in patient care, the new 7-Day Clinic was created in response to patient demand.  It provides busy cancer patients access to their medical oncologist and treatment protocols from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.  CTCA at Midwestern is the only cancer hospital in Illinois to offer weekend clinical services.  Also, CTCA at Midwestern is one of only 15 recipients in Illinois and 339 nationwide to receive the prestigious 2011 HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award. It is the second consecutive year that CTCA at Midwestern has been nationally recognized with the honor.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) is a network of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Washington – with a future location in Atlanta, Georgia.  CTCA provides a comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates conventional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathic medicine, psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the special, whole-person needs of cancer patients with complex and advanced-stage disease.  CTCA encourages patients and their families to participate in treatment decisions through its Patient Empowerment Medicine^SM model.  For more information about Cancer Treatment Centers of America, go to cancercenter.com.