Reba Kennedy had her first and second lung cancer surgically removed by doctors in her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn., in1997 and 1999, respectively. They also removed her breast cancer in 2002.

But two years later, Reba felt an excruciating pain worse than ever before. Her lung cancer had returned in a large mass wrapped around her ribs. Local doctors said this tumor -- which was at stage 4 -- was inoperable. They recommended she...