After facing both prostate and colon cancer, Glen Winters found hope, healing and a care team that felt like family close to home in Oklahoma.
For Glen Wayne Winters, life in southwest Oklahoma has always centered on family, friendship and community.
A native of Mangum and longtime resident of Altus, Glen and his wife recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Their two sons, daughters-in-law and four grandchildren all live nearby, allowing Glen and his wife to remain closely involved in their lives.
“We stay pretty busy chasing them around,” Glen said. “We’ve got some who show animals, cheerleaders, golfers and baseball players—a little bit of everything.”
Glen also maintains an office with Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance, where he has worked since 1981. When he isn’t spending time with family or helping clients, he enjoys hunting and staying connected with the many friends he has made throughout his life.
Cancer was not something Glen expected to face himself. When an illness led him to visit his doctor, bloodwork revealed that his prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, level was significantly elevated.
Fortunately, Glen knew someone who could help him understand what might come next.
His longtime friend, David Bush, had previously been treated for prostate cancer at Oklahoma Proton Center. Glen had watched David go through treatment and remembered the experience he shared.
“I called David and said, ‘All right, which doctor did you use?’” Glen recalled.
After receiving a prostate cancer diagnosis and learning about his treatment options, Glen came to Oklahoma Proton Center to determine whether proton therapy was right for him. Before beginning treatment, Glen’s care team recommended that he schedule a colonoscopy.
That screening revealed something no one expected: Glen also had colon cancer.
His prostate cancer treatment was temporarily placed on hold while he underwent surgery for colon cancer on September 24. After taking time to recover, Glen was able to move forward with proton therapy.
He received his first treatment on December 29 and completed 29 treatments on February 12, when he rang the bell surrounded by those who had helped him through the journey.
Follow-up appointments have since brought encouraging news for both cancers.
“I couldn’t be more thankful,” Glen said.
Going the Distance for Treatment
Receiving treatment required a major commitment from Glen and his family. Traveling from Altus to Oklahoma City meant driving approximately 300 miles round trip for each appointment.
Even with the long days on the road, Glen remained grateful that proton therapy was available in his home state.
“We’re lucky to have that center as close as it is,” he said. “While we were there, we met people from all parts of America who were coming and staying in Oklahoma to receive treatment. We’re very blessed to have it here.”
With the support of his family and a trusted staff keeping things running at his office, Glen was able to continue working while completing treatment. Phone calls, emails and text messages helped him stay connected to his clients and maintain a sense of normalcy throughout the process.
At Oklahoma Proton Center, he found another source of support in the physicians, nurses, radiation therapists and staff members he encountered each day.
“The people there are the greatest people I’ve ever met in a medical setting,” Glen said. “From the time you walk through the front door, to the team that works with you, to the time you leave—everyone is truly there to help you.”
A Cowboy-Style Thank You
When Glen completed treatment, he wanted to do something meaningful for the people who had cared for him. His original idea was to take his treatment team to dinner, but coordinating everyone’s schedules proved difficult.
So Glen found a solution that reflected his Oklahoma roots: He brought dinner to them.
“We decided we were going to bring the cowboy cooks to the Proton Center,” he said.
Glen and his friends set up behind the center and prepared steak, baked potatoes, salad and dessert for everyone in the building. It was his way of offering a heartfelt thank-you to those who had guided, encouraged and cared for him.
“It was just a small token of my appreciation to everybody who helped me through that journey,” he said.
The gathering also created an opportunity to help others. One of Glen’s friends attended the meal, met members of the Oklahoma Proton Center team and later pursued proton therapy for his own cancer diagnosis.
For Glen, sharing his experience is another way to help people understand that they may have more options than they realize.
“There are a lot of opportunities out there,” he said. “If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, find out whether proton therapy may be a viable option for you.”
His message is rooted not only in his own treatment experience, but also in memories of watching his mother face cancer when he was young. At that time, patients did not have access to many of the treatment options available today.
That perspective has made Glen especially grateful—for his health, for his family and for the care he found close to home.
“From the doctors and nurses to every member of the staff, the treatment was top shelf,” he said. “I just can’t emphasize that enough.”
Learn more about Glens treatment journey below
Every patient’s diagnosis and treatment needs are different. To learn whether proton therapy may be an option for you or someone you love, call Oklahoma Proton Center at (405) 773-6700 or schedule a consultation.