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When Doctors Get Cancer: new perspectives for caring

by Barry Bittman, MD

While it's no surprise that doctors get cancer too, few people are aware of the personal insights that surface when a healer becomes a patient.

Earlier this Spring, I enjoyed the opportunity of being interviewed with Patch Adams, MD, (the real Patch) and Norman Straker, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York. Supported by Race for the Cure, our interactive discussion focused on enhancing the care of patients with cancer. The program began by viewing a video created by Dr. Straker about physicians whose perspectives of cancer changed through their personal experiences.

The stories and insights of six physicians were presented in the film. These doctors either had cancer, themselves, or were living with a loved-one with cancer. One physician had already lost a child. Another, received the diagnosis while training to become an internist.

While each story was unique, their personal transformations had a great deal in common. Based on personal suffering, all subsequently viewed their patients, and the practice of medicine from humanistic and spiritual perspectives.

They uniformly expressed a deep remorse for their limited understanding of the patients they cared for over the years. Each became highly sensitized to aspects of care such as communication and empathy that had not been adequately considered previously. All developed the resolve to change their practices, and their lives.

A strong emphasis was clearly placed on what it takes to survive. Yet, each, in his or her own way, discovered that survival did not equate with success. One common perspective emerged for all of them. It was simply the need for a sense of control; not over survival or longevity, but rather quality of life, and living fully in the moment.

After viewing the film, and listening to our panel present overall perspectives, the audience had a chance to question us. They were primarily health care providers; doctors, nurses, counselors, and caseworkers who were actively involved in treating patients with cancer. Some rather riveting questions were posed, many of which stemmed from a sense of frustration they were experiencing.

Two common themes emerged from our interaction. The first was the need to enhance patient care by teaching doctors to become more in touch with their patients, and their coworkers. The second dealt with the prevention of "burnout" among health care professionals who cared for individuals with serious illnesses.

While it was acknowledged that the challenges of cancer were sometimes overwhelming, it was also recognized that effectively helping people with life-threatening illnesses required a unique strategy. A sense of respect and camaraderie among doctors, nurses, counselors, therapists and caseworkers facilitated an approach that best supported the patient, while extending much needed nurturing for each team member. This, in turn, could prevent burnout.

Our audience also provided a number of accolades for their doctors and health care professionals who brought out the best in their loved-ones simply by listening and being human. What they remembered the most, was the extension of warmth and compassion to family members who were very much in need.

We also discussed more effective ways to educate health professionals in the areas of caring, compassion and spirituality. Patch felt that every person on the planet needed to care more. "If that were the case," he said, we wouldn't have to teach doctors what everyone would already be practicing."

Dr. Straker felt that medical schools should be more responsible in teaching and promoting these aspects of care. I agree. Yet, there's something inside telling me that regardless of instruction, what it takes to become a facilitator of healing resides in one's DNA.

Personally, I've learned about caring and empathy in other ways. I've seen it in wonderful role models, and in extraordinary patients. Frankly, I even learned about it from my dogs. Ultimately, a physician, or any health care provider can discover the essence of true healing simply by seeing with their heart, and trusting their inner voice. It occurs when we realize that the opportunity to care is a true gift—Mind Over Matter!