>> DR. J. BURTON HAS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON SURVIVING CANCER
WITH BOTH THE PHYSICIANS AND A PATIENT'S POINT OF VIEW.
MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WITH SPRINGFIELD MEDICAL ASSOCIATES,
DR.
BURTON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA IN 2010,
DURING HIS RECOVERY HE CAME TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR IMPROVED
PRIMARY CARE FOR CANCER SURVIVORS, AND THE PRIMARY CARE
CANCER SURVIVORSHIP WAS BOURNE.
CONNECTING POINT INTERN, T.J.
HANNIGAN AND DAVE FRASER VISITED TWO OF THOSE GROUPS TO SHARE
THEIR STORY.
>> I AM A CANCER SURVIVOR.
I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA IN MAY OF 2010.
AS PART OF MY TREATMENT, I HAVE HAD CHEMOTHERAPY, AND RADIATION
THERAPY, AND I ALSO HAD A STEM CELL TRANSPLANT IN OCTOBER OF
2010.
I WAS TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT I WANTED TO DO WITH THE REST OF MY
LIFE.
AND THAT'S WHY, WITHIN MY PRACTICE, SPRINGFIELD MEDICAL
ASSOCIATES, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE PRIMARY CARE CANCER
SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM BECAUSE WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF CANCER
SURVIVORS.
>> QUICKLY WE RECOGNIZED THE NEED TO OFFER MORE SERVICES IN
THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AREA MORE CANCER SURVIVORSHIPS
SERVICES, AND SURVIVOR JOURNEYS CAME OUT OF THAT.
>> I GREW -- THEY ARE TERRIFIC.
THERE IS A CAMARADERIE OF PEOPLE IN THE GROUP, AND WE COME IN AND
HAVE A RELAXED ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S CONFIDENTIAL.
AND IT'S EMOTIONALLY SAFE.
WE DON'T USE ANY STRUCTURED CURRICULUM, SO WE JUST BEGIN BY
SAYING OUR NAMES, WHAT OUR DIAGNOSIS IS, AND LET IT FLOW
FROM THERE.
PEOPLE CAN FEEL FREE TO SAY AS LITTLE OR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> I TYPICALLY SEE SHOCK BY THE NEWS OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.
ANGER.
PANIC.
NOT KNOWING WHERE TO GO, WHAT DECISIONS NEED TO BE MADE FIRST.
AND ULTIMATELY, TREATMENT AND SURVIVORSHIP.
>> WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT WHEN THE ONCOLOGIST SAYS TO THE
PARENT, YOU DON'T NEED ME ANY MORE.
THE PATIENT, SOMETIMES, FEELS ABANDONED.
AND THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HELPED THEM THROUGH THE MOST DIFFICULT
TIME OF THEIR LIFE.
AND THEN, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO AND WHO TO TURN TO.
>> PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.
IT'S EASIER TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE
EXPERIENCE, OR HAVE LOVED ONES GO THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE
KNOWING THAT THERE IS HELP AND THERE IS SUPPORT OUT THERE.
>> MY GOAL BY COMING IS TO TELL THEM, AND TO HELP THEM EXPRESS
WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY.
DON'T HOLD IT ALL IN BECAUSE HERE'S THE PLACE TO DO IT.
NOBODY IS GOING TO JUDGE YOU.
NOBODY IS GOING TO QUESTION YOU.
AND NOBODY IS GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THOSE FEELINGS
THAT YOU HAVE.
I JUST NEEDED TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTOOD.
YOU COULD CALL YOUR FRIEND ON THE PHONE AND TALK ABOUT HOW YOU
ARE FEELING, AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IF YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH IT, SO THIS GROUP OF WOMEN, GRANTED THEY HAVE ALL HAD
DIFFERENT STAGES OF IT, AND BEEN THROUGH DIFFERENT KIND OF
TREATMENTS, AND THEY UNDERSTOOD WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM, SO WE
COULD ALL SHARE STORIES, WE COULD LAUGH ABOUT THINGS, AND IT
REALLY HELPED.
>> WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE'VE BEEN FEELING, WHAT OUR HOPES AND
ASPIRATIONS ARE FOR THE FUTURE.
WHERE WE ACTUALLY ARE ALL UPON OUR JOURNEY.
SO WE DO HELP EACH OTHER.
WE'RE ALL A SOURCE OF STRENGTH.
>> THE UNKNOWN IS WHAT GETS YOU.
YOU KNOW.
IF YOU ARE EDUCATED ABOUT THINGS, AND YOU ARE WELL VERSED
ON IT, IT IS NOT -- IT IS MUCH EASIER SO THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO
DO IS EDUCATE PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM COMFORTABLE.
THE MOST SURPRISING IS RESILIENCY.
IS THE RESILIENCY AND THE COURAGE THAT PEOPLE SHOW WHEN
FACED WITH A CANCER DIAGNOSIS.
THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO GET UP AND PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE
OTHER, AND BECOME A SURVIVOR.
IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH.