"Both protein and fluids are essential to wound healing. Protein is the main building block for tissue growth and cell renewal, and fluids promote blood flow to the area," Karsies says. "Mr. May was already doing a multivitamin, which was good, but we also tried supplemental vitamin C and zinc because his wound got stagnant. His fluids were very low so we're working on that to get the blood flow going to the wound."

Keeping blood sugars under control is also important to healing wounds. Diabetic patients are encouraged to adhere to a diet low in sugar, fat and salt, eat small portions throughout the day and focus on complex carbohydrates.

"Some of our patients are healed from their cancer," Karsies says. "We're helping them live with day-to-day problems from treatment including long-term symptoms that are bothersome and a hindrance to daily life."

After finding a perfect bone marrow donor with 10 matching protein markers, three weeks in the hospital for transplant, an additional week in the hospital for treatment for a fever and 100 days of recovery, May’s biopsy showed no cancer.

He hopes to return to his rig soon and relieve his 27-year-old son of the driving duties.

"I am cancer-free as of right now. My doctor says I'm living on my donor cells," May says. "Thanks to the care I've received, I'm now healing and in minimal pain. It is working."