Today's Our Neighbor is a doctor who can truly relate with her patients, and she's encouraging you to come to her support group, if you need the help.
Dr. Susan Porter Levy is a clinical psychologist who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007.
Accustomed to helping others with crisis situations, Dr. Levy has spent the last three years using her own techniques on herself.
She also leads a free support group from 4-5:30 p.m., two Mondays a month, at Baylor Hospital in Plano.
It's her opportunity to use personal coping strategies to help other breast cancer patients and survivors deal with their own journeys.
Strategies include laughter, relaxation and journaling to help with pain relief.
"The idea is that laughter can contribute to pain relief. It can contribute to immune function. It oxygenates your body when you actually laugh," she said.
"Cancer is very hard and the treatment is difficult and you need someone to be by your side and tell you it's gonna be okay," said cancer patient Linda Tiede.
People interested need to call ahead to Baylor Hospital and ask for Dr. Levy, as a light dinner is provided for free.
As for Dr. Levy, she hopes to finish her chemotherapy treatments by the end of August.
If you want to know more about the support class or if you know someone we can feature as an Our Neighbor, contact me at cizzy@wfaa.com
