Florida Health Care News
Indian River County Edition
Summer 2001


Caring for the whole person on the journey through cancer

"People with cancer need the best medical care available," says Dr. Jeremy Geffen. "That is clear. But they also need more. They need time with their physician, and answers to their questions. They also need guidance about diet, exercise, and other complementary therapies that can make a huge impact in their quality of life. Finally, they need and deserve love, kindness, and respect for who they are as unique individuals. That is what 'caring for the whole person' is all about."

With the mission of caring for patients and their loved ones in this comprehensive way, Jeremy R. Geffen, MD, founded the Geffen Cancer Center and Research Institute in Vero Beach in 1994. Since that time, the Center has won international respect and acclaim from patients and medical professionals for its unwavering dedication to leading-edge medical treatment, augmented by its pioneering program for healing and transforming the whole person.

Dr. Geffen's vision of truly comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care took a giant step forward in the year 2000 with the publication of his first book, The Journey Through Cancer: An Oncologist's Seven-Level Program for Healing and Transforming the Whole Person (Crown Publishers: NY).

The book has drawn accolades from an impressive number of print and broadcast media sources, including The New York Times, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Alternative & Complementary Therapies, Oncology News International, and many others. In addition, in 1999 and again in 2000, Dr. Geffen was honored to be chosen to give expert witness testimony before the United States Congress regarding his unique vision of cancer care.

Dr. Geffen himself first walked the journey through cancer hand-in-hand with his father, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1985, when Dr. Geffen was in medical school. During their journey, and like so many others with cancer, he and his father encountered fear, despair, and challenges at every step along the way.

It was during that journey, as he watched "the light go out of [his] father's eyes," that this young, inspired, and gifted medical student saw the vision for his career. He resolved to become the kind of oncologist that he, his family, and, most of all, his father, had hoped to find -- and to one day build the cancer center that he wished had been available for his father.

The Geffen Cancer Center and Research Institute is the fulfillment of that vision, and was established with a clearly defined mission: to provide meticulous, state-of-the-art medical care for those with cancer, while honoring and caring for their needs and concerns as individuals in a truly comprehensive, humanistic way. While the finest, leading-edge medical treatments available form the foundation of cancer care at the Center, the focus never waivers from treating the whole person. Indeed, Dr. Geffen and his staff understand that cancer is a complex process that challenges every aspect of individuals -- including their spouse and family members. Thus, they are eminently concerned with addressing the deeper needs and concerns of patients and their loved ones with as much skill and integrity as they use in dealing with the medical aspects of their care.

In The Journey Through Cancer, Dr. Geffen describes in detail how these goals are met. Although his education included a rigorous course of study and training at some of the finest universities in the country, Geffen's approach and philosophy of care was broadened by his travels to India, Nepal, and Tibet where he studied their great spiritual and healing traditions, and searched for ways to integrate them with modern medicine.

Message of hope

The Journey Through Cancer gently and clearly addresses the scientific basis of cancer and its treatments -- including conventional as well as alternative and complementary therapies -- while also demonstrating an unprecedented understanding of the most basic human aspects of the healing process. Dr. Geffen does this by guiding the reader through his unique seven-level program, designed to explore every dimension of who we all are as human beings -- body, mind, heart, and spirit. The seven levels are as follows: Level One-Education and Information; Level Two-Psychosocial Support; Level Three-The Body as Garden; Level Four-Emotional Healing; Level Five-The Nature of Mind; Level Six-Life Assessment; Level Seven-The Nature of Spirit.

Through practical guidance, along with inspiring storiesof real patients, he offers readers the tools, courage, and inspiration to navigate their journey in an entirely new way.

The Journey Through Cancer is a revolutionary guidebook for navigating a path that no one seeks but many will encounter at some point during their life. Dr. Geffen -- and the entire staff of the Geffen Cancer Center -- walk it over and over again, holding the hands of patients and their family members, providing wisdom, compassion, and invaluable insight at every step along the way. FHCN

Make a note...
Dr. Geffen and his staff look forward to meeting you and serving your needs. For further information or to schedule a consultation, please call (772) 770-5800 or toll free (800) 834-4791. The Center is located at 981 - 37th Place in Vero Beach, directly across from Indian River Memorial Hospital. More information can also be found at www.geffencenter.com.

Jeremy R. Geffen, MD, FACP, is board certified in medical oncology and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Columbia University and received his medical degree with honors from New York University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at the University of California at San Diego and fellowship training in hematology and medical oncology at the University of California at San Francisco.

From the Reviews

"Oncologist Jeremy R. Geffen, MD, has done medicine -- physicians, nurses, allied health providers, patients and their families -- an extraordinary service in giving us this sensitive, thoughtful, beautifully written book."
-Denis Meacham, Editorial Director, The Integrative Medicine Consultant

"The Journey Through Cancer is a priceless gift -- and will, in time, reclaim for cancer medicine its fullest potential."
-John W. Rieke, MD, FACP, Virginia Mason Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington

" Dr. Jeremy Geffen's calm, balanced voice of experience convinced me that he is on to something."
-Merle Thompson, Journal of the National Cancer Institute

"This is the single best book ever written for those with cancer and those who love them."
-Joan Borysenko, PhD, Author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind

The Geffen Cancer Foundation, Inc.

Cancer often challenges the mind, heart, and spirit of patients and their loved ones as deeply -- if not more deeply -- than it challenges the physical body. In light of this, in 1998 the Geffen Cancer Foundation, Inc. was established to help meet the mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of cancer patients, family members, and friends, and to support scientific research.

The nonprofit Foundation underwrites the costs of a number of tremendously valuable programs, including: on-going support groups; classes in yoga, meditation, relaxation and nutrition; and an annual, communitywide, educational Cancer Awareness Day. It also supports research activities in a variety of areas.

Donations from patients, family members, and grateful friends and supporters of the Geffen Cancer Foundation fund the ever-expanding services which are offered to all the residents of Vero Beach, Indian River County, and the surrounding areas. For more information, or if you would like to assist the Foundation in fulfilling its important goals, please call (772) 770-2604.