Televisionista: "Grey's Anatomy" Star Patrick Dempsey Helps Cancer Initiative

Patrick Dempsey appeared on today's edition of ABC's This Week speaking with host George Stephanopoulos about his mother who has successfully battled cancer as well as his work for Breakaway With Cancer, a support initiative founded in 2005.

The actor may be a doctor salvaging lives in over 20 million households every Thursday night, but in real life he only recalls the intensity of concern for a loved one in need of medical care.

Dempsey said: "Well, it's overwhelming because it's like, there's too many options sometimes. It's like, well, why should I believe the doctors? Shouldn't I get a second opinion? Shouldn't I find a specialist?"

The actor explained: "You feel very naive and childlike in a lot of ways, you have to give over a lot of power to these people who may or may not understand what your needs are, or care, just because of the volume of work that they're going through."

"You need a support system in to encourage you, to get you up and out of bed in the morning," he said and added that his mother has been cancer-free for 9 years and he has now joined the support program to help others.