Sherry’s Story
Sherry Bell
Keller, Texas
September 24, 2009 was the day my heart sank. After many months of monitoring my fiancé’s PSA levels and watching them fluctuate up and down, John’s urologist said the words we thought we’d never hear: prostate cancer.
At first I was scared and helpless. However, I knew as John’s partner I needed to get through the fear and realize that I could help him just by being supportive and strong. Prostate cancer is not a death sentence and I needed to be positive in order to help John beat this cancer. If there’s one thing our faith has taught us, it’s to trust in God and he will provide. So that’s exactly what we did.
John and I had known each other for 24 years and were each married until my husband Gary’s life was taken by cancer in April of 2004 and John and his wife divorced. In September 2008, we started talking to each other again for the first time in years, and realized we were soul mates. We decided to marry to start a new chapter in our lives together. Almost exactly one year later, we found out about John’s diagnosis.
With that cancer diagnosis looming and the need to begin treatment, we planned our wedding in just three weeks time.
John’s urologist told him his only option was surgery. We were certainly nervous about surgery, as well as the side effects, but knew that if this is what needed to happen to beat this cancer, that’s what he would do. By the grace of God, my friend told us about proton therapy, a different kind of radiation treatment. Her step father had just been treated for cancer using protons and she thought it could be a treatment option for John, especially since a center had just opened up in her hometown of Oklahoma City – rather close to our home in Keller, Texas.
From there, we started our own research into cancer treatment options – including proton therapy.
We just knew proton therapy had to be the right option and we wasted no time, we called and scheduled an appointment with the medical team. Not only would proton therapy cut down on the side effects of treatment, but it would allow John to lead a normal, active life during and after his treatment.
In December we were married and in February 2010 we celebrated our honeymoon – at ProCure Proton Therapy Center, Oklahoma City. Throughout the treatment, I was amazed at how much strength and energy John had. During his nine weeks of daily treatments, we took in all the sights of Oklahoma City and ate our way through the city, sampling 51 different restaurants.
One thing that certainly can’t be understated is the quality of care John received. Having lost my first husband, mother, aunt, uncle and best friend all to cancer, I had been by the side of a lot of people going through different cancer treatments at different facilities. The treatment John received was amazing not only because of its limited side effects, but the ProCure staff cared for us like we were a member of their own family. The experience was unlike any other. Following that nine weeks, our lives were changed forever. After all the new information I learned throughout John’s treatment, I will always remember that a cancer diagnosis is not the end, it is not a death sentence.
That message alone may be the most important for any woman whose loved one is battling with prostate cancer. Being strong for your loved one is the best thing you can do to help them overcome cancer.
