WHY GROUP HEALTH? MEMBERS SAY IT BEST
Personal Physician Pivotal to Throat Cancer Recovery

Starette Canada
Member

In October 2007, I got sick with a cold. After three months, I was still coughing, had laryngitis off and on, and my voice was raspy. By late January 2008, my husband Cliff could no longer stand the coughing, and insisted I see our doctor, Dr. Timothy Whiteley.

From the moment Dr. Whiteley first saw me, he did not cease to try to discover the cause of the seemingly innocent cough. He referred me to an internal medicine doctor, who referred me to a surgeon, who did a biopsy on my throat. Three days later, the results came back: lymphoma. I had no clue what that was.

That evening, Dr. Whiteley called us personally. He had both Cliff and I get on the phone and explained in "plain English" what was going on and what the treatment would be. He even made appointments with the Providence Cancer Center in Everett for us just two days later.

One year later, I am cancer-free! I am not sure if either Cliff or I have enough words to say thank you to Dr. Whiteley, Ellen his nurse, or any other of the caring, loving staff at Group Health. I am alive because of their prompt search for the solution to a cough. They could have said "Go home, rinse your throat, take some pain reliever, and it will go away."

At Group Health, I always feel as though there are no other patients who matter more. Yet I never see anyone being left alone or feeling as though they are ignored.

Because of the care I have had, and continue to receive, I am able to continue working through the small issues chemo leaves you with. But most importantly, I am able to still laugh at how a cough can save your life when you are blessed enough to have those who care in your life.

POSTED: July 2009

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