After taking early retirement from nursing, Kathy and her husband moved from Rhode Island to Northern Arizona. On a visit home to see her family at Christmas, Kathy discovered a lump in her breast.

“When I returned to Arizona, I had a follow-up mammogram at the VVMC Cottonwood campus, and was diagnosed with cancer,” Kathy said. “Soon after, I had surgery to remove the lump, and was told I would need chemotherapy. I knew I wanted to stay close to home to receive treatment. That’s when I turned to Verde Valley Medical Center.”

Kathy was referred to Robert Gagliano, M.D., oncology specialist and a member of the VVMC Medical Staff. He reviewed her diagnostic tests and recommended chemotherapy during a physician-patient consultation.

“Kathy’s cancer had not spread when I began providing her chemotherapy treatment,” Dr. Gagliano said. “As a nurse, she was aware of the need for the early detection. Catching the cancer early was the key to her successful treatment.”

A physician team recommended Kathy begin with chemotherapy and then follow up with radiation therapy. Dr. Gagliano recommended she undergo her radiation treatments at VVMC’s Cancer Center located on the Sedona campus.

A Changing Role
Being the patient instead of the caregiver was a new experience for Kathy, and one that took a little adjustment.

“I think as a nurse, I’m more likely to overanalyze every aspect of my care,” Kathy said. “I was very pleased with the treatment I received at Cottonwood. I appreciated that the facility provided individual patient rooms where I could have my chemotherapy treatments in private. Also, the staff was very caring and positive.”

Committed to Cancer Care
As Verde Valley Medical Center patient Kathy Thornbury discovered, you don’t have to leave Northern Arizona to receive quality cancer care. At the VVMC Cancer Center Sedona Campus, a multidisciplinary team—including radiation oncologists, physicist, dosimetrist, registered nurse, social worker, dietitian and radiation therapists—is on hand to offer comprehensive care.

The Cancer Center Sedona campus provides radiation and medical oncology services with board certified physicians who utilize some of the most current technologies and equipment for treating cancer patients. Superior support services also are offered to patients, including transportation to and from treatments.