“You have cancer.” These are the 3 little words that everyone dreads hearing and that doctors wish they never had to utter. Yet according to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1.8 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States this year, and more than 600,000 people will die of it.
But “you have cancer” are not the most frightening words that a patient with cancer hears. That designation belongs to the phase, “Go home and get your affairs in order.”
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a particularly insidious cancer. Because the average age of CCA diagnosis is 70 years or older, often occurring as a late-stage disease, the average 5-year survival rate is less than 10%, and therefore too many patients with CCA receive this dire advice.
This situation leads to the question: How can a cancer care team provide hope in the face of such discouraging statistics? The answer likely lies within the definition of hope itself.
Hope is the optimistic expectation that something good will ultimately happen. It is not simply a suspension of logical thought. Rather, it is the deep-seeded desire for a better outcome and the trust that there is a path forward. Research has shown that patients can receive positive medical benefits from having a hopeful attitude.
Science has shown that hope is not just the purview of patients. Providers and care teams can expand or threaten a patient’s feeling of hope.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that a patient’s feeling of hopefulness is most often influenced by how providers communicate their understanding of the patient’s particular disease and his or her knowledge of the latest treatments.1
Does hope affect a patient’s likelihood of survival? Although there may not be a direct correlation between hope and survival rates, we do know that hope has many positive health benefits. These benefits include the willingness to adhere to treatment regimens, reduced stress, and improved quality of life.
At the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF), we see many reasons for hope. From an increased disease awareness, to new treatment options currently in development, to the dogged determination of researchers seeking a cure, there are many reasons for us to have hope. Perhaps none is more poignant than the stories of long-term survivors of this deadly cancer.
In 2016, Ellyn Goodrich was living on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest, when she received her diagnosis of intrahepatic CCA. She was prescribed the standard of care consisting of 6 months of chemotherapy with a cocktail of gemcitabine and cisplatin, which, surprisingly, she was able to receive right on the island through an oncologist who flew in once a week. After a few months of having no evidence of disease, a routine CT scan showed that the cancer had returned, and Ellyn had to navigate travel to the mainland for surgery and treatment, while also trying to care for her family.
After the recurrence of her cancer, Ellyn realized that she needed to see a specialist. “He offered an aggressive approach, shared that science was leading the way in new treatments, and helped me find my voice. He didn’t sugarcoat my diagnosis, but he offered hope,” she said.
“The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation stresses the importance of finding care at a major cancer center, and I believe that having quality medical attention is so important. Trusting my team brings hope, and staying informed does, as well. Again, knowledge is power, and that translates to hope, in my mind,” Ellyn added.
Tom Leitzke was 58 years old and living as an expatriate in Japan, managing global operations for a publicly traded robotics company, when he was diagnosed with stage IIIB perihilar CCA in 2007. Again, the statistics did not look good. Tom’s prognosis was 7 months of survival at the most, and if he somehow survived, he would most likely never be able to work again. Despite this, Tom was determined and did not lose hope.
Tom explained, “Hope is necessary for the will to follow. Overall, keeping hope, gratitude, passion, and acceptance at the forefront of my medical recovery was probably the most important thing for me. I am also blessed to have an entire medical team I trust, respect, and honor. It is my responsibility to own medical decisions impacting my health, and I chose my doctors accordingly.”
Thirteen years have passed since his initial diagnosis. Tom remains optimistic. “Life is a blessing,” he said. “I am thankful to be alive, to share my cancer experiences with family, friends, and others impacted by this disease. I am grateful for my life journey, and where I am today. What sometimes seems like an end is a new beginning. It was for me, and it starts with hope.”
Although the long-term survival rates for patients with CCA remain low, we at CCF frequently hear stories like Ellyn’s and Tom’s journeys.
Eleven years ago, our own Director of Patient Advocacy, Melinda Bachini, was advised to “go home and get her affairs in order.”
Today, Melinda devotes her days to educating and encouraging other patients who have received the same prognosis. She helps patients and healthcare providers see how hope can be nurtured through education and communication. Melinda believes that “patients and providers are partners in hope.”
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