March 2009 Archives

I had the opportunity this month to host a remarkable guest into our practice, Dr. Jeremy Geffen.  Dr. Jeremy Geffen is a board-certified medical oncologist who has become a nationally and internationally recognized expert in integrative oncology.  Integrative medicine is the practice and study of alternative and complimentary therapies.  He came to Kansas City to present to our practice the possibility of bringing his incredibly unique and powerful program, The Seven Levels of Healing to our practice.  The Seven Levels of Healing is best described as a systematic journey that a newly diagnosed cancer patient takes under the direction of Dr. Geffen and highly trained coordinators to learn the best way in which to deal with their diagnosis. Below is the general outline of his remarkable program.

Lasting 7 weeks this Program is a unique education and support class that gives patients the needed resources to deal with the diagnosis of cancer. We are working hard to bring this program to our practice and are hoping to start the first classes this summer.

  Dr. Geffen originated this program in Boulder, Colorado where it has been met with great success.  He has presented the results and outcomes of this program at The Society for Integrative Oncology meeting and also at M.D. Anderson.  We are so excited to be a practice that will be participating in this unique effort to help our patient's deal with the sometimes overwhelming problems that they face as they struggle to comprehend and fight their diagnosis of cancer.  Our staff is also fired up about this program and its potential benefits for their own growth and the growth of our patients.

I would strongly encourage anyone who is battling cancer to seek out Dr. Geffen's website and read his book.  The book is a wonderful and powerful statement on the concept that the patients are whole beings.  Treatment of patients must be at every level of their being, including their mind, soul, body, and spirit, not just focused on chemotherapy, radiation therapy and other “traditional “therapies.

In my life, I have lost several people that have been close to me.  The person that had the greatest impact on my life was my grandmother. When I was a senior in the high school, my grandmother died.  She was an extraordinary woman and after my parents, she probably played the biggest role in shaping the man and doctor that I have became.  Losing her was a terrible blow.

Although the loss of the grandmother certainly is very difficult, I cannot image losing a young child to violence.  I recently finished reading a book called "The Shack" where a man loses his young daughter to a serial killer.  This book is one of the most unique pieces of literature that I have ever read.  This book struck me in so many ways and on many levels.  It made me cry as I imagined the feeling that I would have if my own daughter was lost.  It then gave me great hope as it talked of an extremely personal relationship with God and how that personal relationship with God can heal all wounds.  I have picked up the book several times since I have finished it the first time to re-read chapters.

As written in this book, I firmly believe that there can be no healing in this world without faith, hope and a strong belief in God.  I have witnessed many a time in my practice where the faith that a patient had has carried them well beyond what they should have survived.  Although I do not believe that death is a failure, I have seen patients that I believe have been cured not so much from the chemotherapy, or  radiation therapy, but from the strength of character, will to survive and their great faith in God.

I would encourage everyone to read "The Shack."  It is a wonderful book with great, great insight.