WEBVTT FILE

1
00:00:10.845 --> 00:00:14.179
Stage-four lung cancer
hasn't stopped Walter

2
00:00:14.215 --> 00:00:15.414
Hawkins.

3
00:00:15.449 --> 00:00:16.949
Far from it.

4
00:00:16.984 --> 00:00:19.985
Three times a week, he and
his wife, Paulina, step

5
00:00:20.021 --> 00:00:24.056
out for a brisk
six-mile walk.

6
00:00:24.091 --> 00:00:26.458
That's remarkable, because
when he was diagnosed,

7
00:00:26.494 --> 00:00:28.927
Walter learned that the
cancer had spread to his

8
00:00:28.963 --> 00:00:32.898
spine and that he likely
would never walk again.

9
00:00:32.933 --> 00:00:36.268
He was told he had 3
to 6 months to live.

10
00:00:36.303 --> 00:00:41.874
 "Now it's over three years that I've been with

11
00:00:41.909 --> 00:00:42.708
 cancer."

12
00:00:42.743 --> 00:00:44.843
 "Any questions about it?"

13
00:00:44.879 --> 00:00:46.145
 "No."

14
00:00:46.180 --> 00:00:47.813
After receiving
chemotherapy and

15
00:00:47.848 --> 00:00:51.517
radiation, Walter has been
getting immunotherapy,

16
00:00:51.552 --> 00:00:54.086
which helps his own
body fight the cancer.

17
00:00:54.121 --> 00:00:57.923
 "The things I work towards, is coming here

18
00:00:57.958 --> 00:01:02.561
 twice a month, every other week to have that

19
00:01:02.596 --> 00:01:05.397
 infusion, because that's my bloodline, that's my

20
00:01:05.433 --> 00:01:07.066
 life."

21
00:01:07.101 --> 00:01:09.902
The therapy is part of
Walter's treatment plan...

22
00:01:09.937 --> 00:01:12.137
a key part of cancer care.

23
00:01:12.173 --> 00:01:15.140
Treatment plans are based
on: the type of cancer,

24
00:01:15.176 --> 00:01:18.610
its location and stage
and your overall health.

25
00:01:18.646 --> 00:01:21.814
 "All of those go into trying to create the

26
00:01:21.849 --> 00:01:24.616
 treatment plan for a given patient, which will

27
00:01:24.652 --> 00:01:28.720
probably last the next two
to four to six months, at

28
00:01:28.756 --> 00:01:31.023
 which point you may reevaluate and then come

29
00:01:31.058 --> 00:01:34.326
 up with either a different plan or a way to maintain

30
00:01:34.361 --> 00:01:35.561
 that plan."

31
00:01:35.596 --> 00:01:38.464
The plan may include: the
goal of treatment-whether

32
00:01:38.499 --> 00:01:41.800
cure, extending life or
relieving symptoms, the

33
00:01:41.836 --> 00:01:44.703
specific treatment or
treatments you'll receive,

34
00:01:44.738 --> 00:01:48.207
where you'll receive them,
how often and how long

35
00:01:48.242 --> 00:01:51.376
you'll receive them,
possible side effects and

36
00:01:51.412 --> 00:01:53.846
follow-up care
after treatment.

37
00:01:53.881 --> 00:01:56.148
 "I'm so happy to report that everything looks

38
00:01:56.183 --> 00:01:57.583
 completely stable."

39
00:01:57.618 --> 00:02:00.052
Understanding your
plan is crucial.

40
00:02:00.087 --> 00:02:03.355
If you have any questions,
be sure to ask them, as

41
00:02:03.390 --> 00:02:05.524
Walter and
Paulina have done.

42
00:02:05.559 --> 00:02:10.028
 "We both need to find answers.

43
00:02:10.064 --> 00:02:13.732
 She had to be in every doctor's visit, and she

44
00:02:13.767 --> 00:02:17.102
 needed to ask any questions that she had

45
00:02:17.138 --> 00:02:19.872
 about any what-if's."

46
00:02:19.907 --> 00:02:22.975
Possible questions to ask
about your plan include:

47
00:02:23.010 --> 00:02:26.044
How likely is it that
the treatment will help?

48
00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:28.213
How will we know
if it's working?

49
00:02:28.249 --> 00:02:31.016
Should someone come with
me to treatment sessions?

50
00:02:31.051 --> 00:02:33.685
When will I start having
side effects and long will

51
00:02:33.721 --> 00:02:35.220
they last?

52
00:02:35.256 --> 00:02:37.122
What can I do
to lessen them?

53
00:02:37.158 --> 00:02:40.659
Will I be able to work and
do my regular activities?

54
00:02:40.694 --> 00:02:43.562
How long after treatment
will I be able to get back

55
00:02:43.597 --> 00:02:45.697
to my normal routine?

56
00:02:45.733 --> 00:02:47.966
Will my insurance
cover the costs?

57
00:02:48.002 --> 00:02:51.103
Are there clinical trials
I may want to consider?

58
00:02:51.138 --> 00:02:54.206
Your input to the plan is
important, so if there's

59
00:02:54.241 --> 00:02:56.508
anything you want to
change or don't feel

60
00:02:56.544 --> 00:02:57.109
comfortable with...

61
00:02:57.144 --> 00:02:58.310
speak up.

62
00:02:58.345 --> 00:03:01.246
And if you'd like a second
opinion from another

63
00:03:01.282 --> 00:03:03.081
expert, don't
hesitate to get one.

64
00:03:03.117 --> 00:03:05.050
 "In general, I think getting a second opinion

65
00:03:05.085 --> 00:03:06.351
 is always a good idea.

66
00:03:06.387 --> 00:03:08.287
 And many patients are worried that they're gonna

67
00:03:08.322 --> 00:03:10.923
 offend their original doctor if they do that.

68
00:03:10.958 --> 00:03:14.560
 Most of us accept this as a normal part of what

69
00:03:14.595 --> 00:03:15.761
 happens."

70
00:03:15.796 --> 00:03:18.530
Walter's plan has enabled
him to get out of bed and

71
00:03:18.566 --> 00:03:21.500
leave his wheelchair
behind - one step at a

72
00:03:21.535 --> 00:03:22.634
time.

73
00:03:22.670 --> 00:03:25.704
Recently, he reached
a major milestone, the

74
00:03:25.739 --> 00:03:29.741
finish line in Atlanta's
10K Peachtree Road Race.

75
00:03:29.777 --> 00:03:35.280
 "It was an accomplishment that I was a winner, and I

76
00:03:35.316 --> 00:03:37.716
 was beating cancer."

77
00:03:37.751 --> 00:03:43.989
 Can you imagine from the bed paralyzed to 6.2 miles

78
00:03:44.024 --> 00:03:45.791
 every other day?

79
00:03:45.826 --> 00:03:48.994
 Sometimes I have to catch up with him, looking at

80
00:03:49.029 --> 00:03:53.632
 him, and say, "This is a miracle."

81
00:03:53.667 --> 00:03:55.500
 "I feel good.

82
00:03:55.536 --> 00:03:57.369
 My future looks very bright."