THE CLOSING OF CTCA OF TULSA

You may wonder what CTCA stands for.  It is Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  It is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. It is a national for-profit network of 5 comprehensive cancer care and research centers, and three outpatient care centers that serves cancer patients throughout the United States.

CTCA has centers in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona and Tulsa, Oklahoma.  CTCA has hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix. The first hospital opened in Illinois in 1988.  The Philadelphia Hospital that was marketed on television in the Harrisburg area for years, will be sold to the University at Templeton. 

Cancer Treatment Centers of America of Tulsa Opened in 1990 and was located at CityPlex Towers, which the towers were constructed by Oral Roberts University as part of the City of Faith Hospital.  In 2005 CTCA moved into a brand new 195,000 sq. ft. hospital touting themselves as Oklahoma's 'only' major hospital completely focused on treating cancer.  It is sad to announce that the branch in Tulsa will close operations as of June 1, 2021.  400 employees will be seeking jobs.  Officials say because of insurmountable patient access and insurance limitations, highlighted during COVID-19 pandemic, that restricted patient care options and prevented choice, is the reason for the closing of the Tulsa center.  The President of CTCA Tulsa has exhausted all options, but unfortunately, the officials realized the Oklahoma market was not going to treat at CTCA Tulsa. This lead to the very hard difficult decision to close the doors.

I was shocked when I received the notice in an email, that the center in Tulsa would be closing.  I began with them around the end of March, 2018.  I had a biopsy done in February of 2018 and was diagnosed with non-invasive carcinoma, Stage 1.  The cancer center also diagnosed me with Osteopenia.  I am suppose to take Vitamin D3 daily for my bones and get a dexa scan (bone density test) every six months.  I also receive a shot every six months when the bone density test shows the need for it. Praise God after my last Dexa Scan, I didn't have to take a shot. 

I am quite sure my primary care doctor can take over the treatment of my osteopenia and my Dexa Scans, and possibly be able to administer my shots. I am hoping he can also prescribe my chemo pill I am taking daily to help prevent the cancer coming back. I know he can order my mammograms, he used to order them for me before my cancer was found.  I am cancer free so far.  It has been three years since my surgery. Usually, in most cases of breast cancer, you are on a hormone blocker pill, which many call it a chemo pill, for five years.  My oncologist recommended ten years, because many of her patients were returning in 6 to 10 years, with their cancer returning. So to be on the safe side, she recommends staying on the pill for 10 years.  

When I had my surgery back in 2018, my tumor was very small and had not spread.  So I chose to have a lumpectomy.  Followed by reconstruc  tion surgery.  I was a good candidate to receive one round of radiation between my two surgeries just for a precaution. In having the one round of radiation, I didn't have to take chemo treatments. 

I went to my primary care doctor today.  He will take over the treatment of my osteopenia, ordering my Dexa Scans.  He will also order my mammo-grams as he did before.  He wants me to go to an oncologist for a con-sultation on my shot for my osteopenia and the hormone blocker for my cancer.  I was hoping to not have to continue to see a oncologist.  Maybe I won't have to after this consultation.  I also wanted an oncologist in Claremore, because I do not drive in Tulsa anymore, so someone has to take off work to take me to appointments in Tulsa.  Claremore does not have an oncologist.  

I truly feel blessed in my journey with breast cancer.  When they found the tumor I prayed it wouldn't be cancer.  But it was.  The doctor who did my biopsy didn't think it looked cancerous.  We were both wrong.  The best part was, the tumor was very small and had not spread. The surgeon was able to get all of it.  At the time I was diagnosed and treated for cancer, two other women I know and live in the same small town, had a tougher time than I did.  God truly Blessed me and continues to do so.

Thanks for reading my story.

*Starlight* (cb name)



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