“He didn’t say, ‘There’s no hope.’ He said, ‘Let’s get after this.'”
Trevor Tindle never imagined a sore throat would change the course of his life.
For nearly a year, recurring throat infections came and went. Antibiotics seemed to help at first, so cancer was never the first thought. Like many people, Trevor hadn’t been to the doctor regularly because he felt healthy. By the time another physician looked more closely, everything had changed.
The diagnosis was advanced throat cancer.
Then came even more devastating news.
The cancer had spread to his spine—an uncommon and particularly aggressive progression for his type of cancer. One medical team told him there was little left to do beyond keeping him comfortable. The average survival, they explained, was measured in months.
Trevor couldn’t accept that answer.
“I’ve got kids at home,” he remembers thinking. “There has to be another option.”
So he sought a second opinion.
A Different Conversation
Through a connection with Oklahoma Proton Center, Trevor’s records reached Dr. John Chang.
The conversation couldn’t have been more different.
Instead of focusing on what couldn’t be done, Dr. Chang focused on what could.
“He didn’t say, ‘We’ll make you comfortable,'” Trevor says. “He said, ‘Let’s get after this.’ He told me there was still a path forward. Nothing was set in stone.”
For the first time since his diagnosis, Trevor felt hope return.
His treatment plan included proton therapy to both his throat and the area where cancer had spread to his spine, along with chemotherapy.
Protecting What Mattered Most
For Trevor, beating cancer wasn’t the only goal.
He speaks professionally for a living. He also sings and helps lead worship at his church. Losing his voice would mean losing an important part of who he is.
Traditional radiation carried significant risks to the structures responsible for speech and swallowing. Proton therapy offered the ability to more precisely target the cancer while reducing unnecessary radiation to nearby healthy tissue.
“When Dr. Chang told me they were going to do everything they could to spare my voice and protect those normal tissues, that meant everything to me.”
More Than a Treatment Center
Trevor quickly discovered that Oklahoma Proton Center wasn’t just a place where he received treatment.
It became a place where he felt genuinely cared for.
From the front desk staff to the therapists, nurses, and physicians, every interaction reminded him he wasn’t facing cancer alone.
“We were met here with positivity every step of the way,” Trevor says. “Everyone made us feel like we were going to make a run at this.”
One Day at a Time
Treatment wasn’t easy.
Weeks into therapy, swallowing became painful. His tongue burned. Eating with his family became one of the hardest parts—not because he couldn’t be with them, but because swallowing was so painful that meals became emotionally exhausting.
Still, Trevor found ways to adapt.
He learned to finely chop foods, add gravies and sauces, drink smoothies, and constantly sip water to compensate for reduced saliva production. He openly shares those practical tips with other patients beginning treatment because he knows how valuable that encouragement can be.
“You can get through it,” he says. “Just keep eating. Keep drinking. Keep adapting.”
Despite treatment, Trevor was able to avoid a feeding tube and continued speaking throughout much of therapy.
A Life Beyond Cancer
Today, Trevor’s outlook is remarkably different than the one he was given when his cancer spread.
Instead of preparing for the end of life, he has celebrated multiple clear scans with no evidence of disease.
“People like me who were supposed to be gone are still here,” he says. “I’ve had three clear scans. I feel good.”
He now uses his experience to encourage others facing their own diagnosis, reminding them that cancer treatment continues to evolve and that hope should never be abandoned too soon.
Trevor’s Message
If Trevor could speak directly to someone newly diagnosed with cancer, his advice would be simple:
“Maintain hope. There is treatment. There is hope. There are new advances happening all the time.”
“And if you’re facing head and neck cancer, come here. Let them help you.”
Learn more about Trevor and his battle with head & neck cancer at the video below.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, the Oklahoma Proton Center is committed to providing advanced proton therapy in a compassionate, patient-centered environment.
Our experienced team combines state-of-the-art technology with personalized care to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Contact us today to learn whether proton therapy may be the right treatment option for you.