Oklahoma Couple Brings HOPE to Cancer Patients

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma woman, who has dealt with severe side effects of cancer, and her husband are making a difference  in the lives of other cancer patients in the state.

Twyla Smith is a psychiatrist. She talks to patients about their troubles every day, but last year around Christmas, she had her own problems to deal with.

"Went in for a routine mammogram and was stunned when they told me that there was something on that mammogram that was suspicious. Had a biopsy and, sure enough, was diagnosed with breast cancer," Smith said.

Smith went through a bi-lateral mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. In the process she lost her hair, fingernails and toenails. The treatment chemicals also severely burned her skin.

"My eyes were running, and so when the tears, with that chemical in them, rolled down my cheeks then indeed, it did burn my cheeks and was very painful and frightening," Smith said.

Smith's husband happens to be a dermatologist and registered pharmacist, and Dr. Joel Holloway isn't one to stand idly by.

"Well I felt like, OK she has the cancer. Now we're going to have to jump on it," Dr. Holloway said.

And his wife agreed. Soon, he created special creams and soaks out of powders to soothe her pain, and it made an immediate difference.

"We knocked down probably 95 percent of her radiation response, the burn," Holloway said.

Now in remission, Smith is going in for routine check-ups, and the couple has started a support group called HOPE Oklahoma for other cancer patients dealing with severe side effects.

And Smith is back in her comfort zone helping others go through life's most difficult diagnoses.

Find out more about HOPE Oklahoma