MADISON: There's a new way to "fight" cancer. It's a unique program where patients turn to coaches for help! U.W. Madison students volunteer their time and learn to walk in a patient's shoes.

Almost three years ago, Emily Boumann was told she had stage four melanoma. She had just turned 20 and reality didn't hit right away. "I was kind of in denial really. I thought okay, this is just going to set me back a week."

Emily's cancer has spread; treatment in Milwaukee didn't work and things went downhill from there. Emily said, "..went through treatment in Madison, didn't work..and to hear doctor's say I can't help you. It's just unbelievable."

Family and her fiance are a great support but Emily needed help navigating her health care. "I just remember thinking there's no way I can be responsible for finding the treatment that's going to save my life," said Emily.

Help came through The Center for Patient Partnerships at U.W. Madison and Pete Daly. He's Emily's advocate. Pete was able to find clinical trials that would treat her cancer. Pete says, "I actually went with her to meet with her doctors and to review where she was at, what the options were."

Pete is also a melanoma survivor. Five years ago the center helped him. Now he's an Ironman competitor and giving back to other patients. "We can lean on each other, our own experiences to try and help the situation along," he said.

Most of the center's advocates are graduate students. They will eventually be doctors, nurses, pharmacists or practice law...like Brian Jencks. "It's a lot of pressure but it's also really rewarding," said Jencks, "this client is not just someone who wants money back in a suit. This is someone who wants their life."

What these students get back is an invaluable learning experience they won't find in the classroom. Sarah Davis, the center's associate director, points out the main goal is to educate students. "We want to really empower future nurses, future doctors, future lawyers who are going to work in the health care system to see their role as advocate as well as provider."

Since finding The Center For Patient Partnerships Emily feels she's on the right track. "Pete is a melanoma survivor and the treatment that saved his life is the treatment I'm on now." Emily has found new hope.

The center's services are free and volunteers help patients from across the country manage many aspects of their health care.