Courage BayCare Health System
In
“When you hear you have cancer, the first thing you think about is, ‘Am I going to survive?’ You confront your mortality. Can you move past that or not?” admitted cancer survivor Dusty. With the help of Cancer Patient Support Services (CaPSS) at Morton Plant Hospital, part of BayCare Health System (Clearwater, Fla.), Dusty found that, yes, he can move past it. Begun in 1991, CaPSS is an innovative program that helps cancer patients and their families cope more effectively with the emotional and physical changes resulting from a cancer diagnosis. CaPSS treats the whole person—body, mind and spirit—and is the first and only program of its kind in Pinellas County, Florida. In 2010, CaPSS served approximately 5,000 individuals. CaPSS offers free services focused on education, counseling (both inpatient and outpatient), screenings, support groups and stress management. Dusty especially enjoys the Prostate Cancer Discussion Group and Qigong.
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Above: Dusty (second from left) interjects some levity into the Prostate Cancer Discussion Group. Right: Qigong, led by counselor John Llauget, is a relaxing therapy for Dusty.
“For a long time I had the attitude that such groups were not necessary,” Dusty admitted. “I’m too tough. I don’t need that.” Witnessing family members coping with cancer changed his mind. He joined the Prostate Cancer Discussion Group in 2006. “We laugh a lot,” said Dusty. “It is a fun group. One individual said, ‘This is cancer. Why are you laughing?’ First of all, laughter is healing and secondly, we all survived. Why shouldn’t we laugh?” Licensed Counselor John Llauget explained, “We assess where cancer patients are with the illness—what they know and how they’re doing emotionally. We’re here to be an ally, to help them cope and there is no cost.”
I think the one message I could deliver to anyone is that you don’t have to deal with cancer alone. Sometimes you need more and it’s there.
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Catholic Health East Community Benefit Annual Report 2010
” —Dusty
In 2001, the hospital added Qigong (pronounced chee-gung)—the ancient Chinese practice combining meditation, movement and breathing to enhance the natural flow of vital energy—to the menu of services offered by CaPSS. “Qigong has been around for thousands of years,” John explained. “It elicits a relaxation response and helps with the side effects of cancer treatment.” Dusty is an avid proponent of Qigong. “It is renewing,” he said. “There is an immediate effect. I feel calm, relaxed and empowered.” The CaPSS mission is to be a resource for information and counseling, to help patients cope and to have hope. Clinical care is not enough. Dusty can attest to that. “I think the one message I could deliver to anyone is that you don’t have to deal with cancer alone,” said Dusty. “Yes, you have friends and family, but sometimes you need more and it’s there.”