Actor Patrick Dempsey understands the impact cancer can have on patients and their loved ones, especially caregivers. Patrick's mother, Amanda, is a two-time ovarian cancer survivor. First diagnosed in 1996 and now cancer-free, Patrick remembers the overwhelming amount of information that he and his family had to consider when looking for resources and treatment options to help his mother battle her disease. The family was able to access information through the Internet, but experienced challenges given the volume of information. Fortunately, Patrick's sister was able to help the family navigate through the information and identify the best treatment and support options for their mother.

Patrick, who was living in Los Angeles at the times of his mother's diagnosis and battle, dealt with many of the same challenges as other long-distance caregivers. From frequent phone calls to discuss treatment options to supporting family members such as his sister who lives near his mother, Patrick was actively involved in caring for his mother. One of his concerns was keeping his mother mentally and physically active during treatment. To help with this, he purchased a farm so his mother could stay active with gardening, renovating a new home and enjoying the outdoors.

Because of his family's experience, Patrick was motivated to join the Breakaway from Cancer initiative which connects patients and caregivers directly to a variety of professional resources, including those provided by the Breakaway from Cancer non-profit partners, The Wellness Community and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Through this initiative, Patrick hopes to inspire others to seek the support they need. One of his main goals is connecting people in rural areas, such as his home state of Maine, with the latest information and resources, whether it's through the Internet or by being directed to local support services in their area. Additionally, given his own family's challenges with the volume of information available, he wants to help ensure that patients and caregivers are connecting with the best resources from the most highly respected organizations in the field.

“Someone is diagnosed with cancer every 30 seconds. It’s no longer a matter of IF you’ll be touched by cancer, but WHEN. I hope by supporting Breakaway from Cancer and sharing my family’s personal experience, others will be inspired to seek the support they need.”

-- Patrick Dempsey