November 5, 1999

No one knows better than a cancer patient what it's like to battle this frightening disease. Eight MGHers who work closely with cancer patients helped shed some light on patients' personal battles through an improvisational depiction of a cancer support group Oct. 26.

"Life of a Group" is an interactive program that is used to help increase awareness and sensitivity among health care providers regarding the difficult issues facing cancer patients. Staff from the MGH Cancer Center and Social Services took on the roles of recently diagnosed patients participating in a support group.

Their performance was improvisational with no script for the "actors" to follow. The group explored a broad range of emotions and issues experienced by cancer patients, such as loneliness, depression, guilt, spirituality, hopelessness and finding support from loved ones and members of the support group.

The group of actors were: Steve McAfee, MD, of Hematology/Oncology; Marie Cameron, PCA, of Nursing; Bonnie Ryan, RN, of Hematology/Oncology; Haven Fyfe, MSW, of Social Services; McCallum Moore, of the Cancer Center; Anthony Zietman, MD, of Radiation Oncology; Joan Holmes, of the Gillette Center for Women's Cancers; and Sarah Murphy, MSW, of Social Services.

The program was jointly sponsored by the MGH Cancer Center, Social Services and Smith-Kline Beecham and was produced by Sara Murphy, MSW, of Social Services.