‘Cancer has destroyed our family'

Shelby Powell is KCPT’s director of membership. Her father is battling lung cancer.

“My father has been battling stage IV lung cancer for 18 months. It was not found until it was very advanced and (it) has the lowest survival rate of any cancer. He has already beaten the odds, though. It has changed every part of our lives. Everything we do now is, in some way, related to cancer, or, at the very least, it's in the back of our minds.

“My father’s cancer was found when it was very advanced and had already spread to his brain. We knew he needed the best treatment he could possibly get; We won't get a second chance. My husband and I were living outside Houston, Texas, at the time. For us, it was an easy decision to move my parents to Texas with us and have him treated at MD Anderson due to (its) rankings, reputation and cutting-edge treatments. They saved his life and helped him beat the odds of survival. He now does follow-up care at KU Med so they can be at home, but his doctors from MDA still advise on everything.

“It is devastating to hear your loved one has cancer. It's even more devastating when it's advanced, and there is no chance of going for the cure. It's only about keeping it from getting worse. Every decision we make in our lives revolves around it in some way. My husband and I moved closer to home to help, I've taken over their finances, and we take time off work to go to appointments and help as we can. It's heartbreaking to watch someone who has always been so strong and taken care of everyone else be weakened by cancer.”