Top - Steve, Elissa
Santoro and
Virgil Simons
Bottom - Kris Emerson and
John Welshons |
This one-hour special will seek to deal with an often-neglected
area in cancer care: the psychological and emotional needs
of cancer patients and their families. We will take an in-depth
look at how families cope when a loved one is diagnosed
with cancer.
The panel is comprised of a prostate cancer survivor, a
mother of child who had cancer, a breast surgical oncologist
and a grief counselor. The program begins with a mini-documentary
produced by Emmy Award-winning medical producer Paula M.
Levine and features Katherine Guzman and her family who
was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 24. Fourteen
years, four surgeries, and dozens of rounds of chemo later,
she is still alive and feeling great. Part of her good fortune
and good humor has come from her association with Gilda’s
Club. We take our cameras on a family trip to Gilda’s
Club and show that there the focus is on "living"
with cancer. Not only has the club provided emotional and
social support, but it has also nurtured and supported her
children. We interview Katherine and her kids at home and
follow them to Gilda’s for "noogynight"
for the kids and a support group for mom. We also speak
with Ann Lambert, a social worker and the Program Director.
Guests
Kris Emerson - Chairman of
the Board at The Institute for Children with Cancer and
Blood Disorders. Her daughter Samantha was diagnosed with
cancer shortly before her ninth birthday.
Virgil Simons – A prostate cancer
survivor and Founder of Prostate Net, an information and
resource site for patients, families and physicians.
John Welshons - Noted teacher, author,
lecturer and grief counselor.
Dr. Elissa Santoro - A breast surgical
oncologist and founder of the Breast Care and Treatment
Center at the St. Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center.
|
