Carle experience really was blessing

I read with interest the New York Times article on Oct. 23 concerning Carle Clinic.

My family has had a long and rewarding relationship with Carle. During the spring of 1992 my father, William Fox, was diagnosed with lung cancer. After visiting medical centers around the United States, Dad elected to be treated jointly by Carle and Mayo.

Dad had surgery at Mayo in May 1992 and the results were poor; the cancer was too large to remove and had spread to the lymph nodes. Carle, led by Drs. Ken Rowland and Tom Shanahan, along with a team from Mayo, opted for a then-novel and aggressive treatment – radiation and chemotherapy simultaneously.

By August 1992, the treatment appeared to be working, and Dad returned to Mayo for surgery. The surgery was successful and the lymph nodes were clear. Dad has been cancer-free for 17 years.

Contrary to suggestions in the New York Times article, my family is delighted that Ken, Tom and their colleagues at Carle were willing to do what was necessary to cure Dad. We are grateful for the additional 17 wonderful years, and we hold Carle in the highest regard.

PETER B. FOX

Champaign