I have restrained from writing a letter to the editor about Columbia Basin Hematology and Oncology and their monopoly at the Tri-City Cancer Center for a long time, but Sunday's article about Dr. Thomas Rado was simply more than I could bear.

As with the author of the article, I have survived stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was treated for my initial diagnosis and a relapse by CBHO at the Cancer Center. However, after my treatments, my physician was one of those who resigned from CBHO and tried to open a local office. Dr. Rado prevented these doctors from opening a practice in the area.

While I understand that the doctors signed a contract for employment, someone who cares as much about fighting cancer as Dr. Rado could have allowed others to practice in the area. After my doctor resigned, I was assigned two other physicians at CBHO and became so upset with the practice that I drive to the Northstar Clinic in Yakima for my cancer care. There are others from the Tri-Cities who travel to Yakima rather than deal with CBHO. It is unfortunate that oncology at the Tri-City Cancer Center can only be accessed through CBHO. It is apparent to me that Dr. Rado has more than cancer on his mind.

Mark Freshley, Kennewick