Glenn Winters’ Story
For Glenn Winters, life has always revolved around family, community and staying busy.
Glenn and his wife recently celebrated 50 years of marriage, and with their two sons and four grandchildren all living nearby in Altus, Oklahoma, there is rarely a shortage of things to do. From ballgames and livestock shows to golf, cheerleading and hunting, Glenn says he and his wife spend plenty of time keeping up with their grandchildren.
He has also spent decades serving his southwest Oklahoma community, building a career with Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance and lending his time to projects throughout the region.
Then cancer became part of his own story.
A Friend Who Had Been There
When Glenn learned something was wrong, he immediately thought of his longtime friend David Bush.
David had previously been treated for prostate cancer at Oklahoma Proton Center, and Glenn had followed his experience closely. So when a blood test showed Glenn’s PSA was extremely high, David was one of the first people he called.
“I just called David and said, ‘All right, which doc did you use?’” Glenn remembers.
After meeting with a physician and learning he had prostate cancer, Glenn began exploring his treatment options and ultimately came to Oklahoma Proton Center.
But before treatment could begin, doctors recommended that he have a colonoscopy.
That test revealed something no one expected.
Glenn also had colon cancer.
An Unexpected Detour
Proton therapy was put on hold while Glenn underwent surgery for colon cancer in September. After taking time to recover, he was able to move forward with treatment for his prostate cancer.
He received his first proton therapy treatment on December 29 and completed his 29th and final treatment on February 12.
Then came the moment so many patients look forward to—ringing the bell.
Since completing treatment, Glenn says his follow-up testing has brought good news.
“I mean, cancer free with the colon, cancer free with the proton help, and couldn’t be more thankful,” he said.
Going the Distance
Receiving treatment required a significant commitment for Glenn and his family.
Traveling from Altus to Oklahoma City meant driving roughly 300 miles each treatment day. But rather than focusing on the distance, Glenn says he felt fortunate to have proton therapy available in his home state.
“We’re just lucky to have that center that close to where I live,” he said.
During his time at Oklahoma Proton Center, Glenn also met patients who had traveled from across the country for treatment—an experience that made him even more appreciative of having access to proton therapy in Oklahoma.
More Than Treatment
When Glenn talks about his experience, he continually comes back to the people who cared for him.
“The people there that y’all have are the greatest people that I’ve ever met in a medical setting,” he said. “From the time you walk in that front door till you go back to the back room and meet your team that works with you to the time you walk out that door.”
For Glenn, that care deserved a proper thank-you.
After treatment ended, he initially considered taking his care team out to dinner. Coordinating everyone’s schedules proved difficult, so Glenn came up with another idea.
He would bring dinner to them.
Glenn and his “cowboy cooks” came to Oklahoma Proton Center and served steak, potatoes, salad and dessert to the staff who had supported him throughout his treatment.
It was, he says, simply a small token of appreciation for the people who had helped him through his journey.
Sharing What He Learned
Cancer was not new to Glenn’s family. His mother battled cancer when he was young, at a time when patients had far fewer treatment options than they do today.
His own experience has given him a different perspective—and a message he hopes other people will hear when they receive a cancer diagnosis.
“There’s a lot of opportunities out here,” Glenn said. “If you are a candidate for proton, seek that out.”
For Glenn, learning about his options began with a conversation with a friend who had already walked the path before him. Now, he hopes sharing his own experience might do the same for someone else.
“We’re very blessed to have it in Oklahoma,” he said. “I just can’t encourage people enough, if they’re diagnosed with cancer, go seek out and see if that is a viable option for you.”