Moshe Frenkel1,2, Sky Gross3, Ariela Popper Giveon4, Kenneth Sapire5, Doron Hermoni6. 1. Department of Family Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. 2. The Integrative Medicine Unit, The Institute of Oncology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. 3. The Minerva Center for End-of-Life Studies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. 4. David Yellin Academic College, Jerusalem, Israel. 5. Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. 6. Department of Family Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University & Sharon-Shomron District, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Abstract
AIM: Unexplained prolonged survival given a diagnosis of incurable advanced cancer is a puzzling phenomenon that recently has attracted more scientific research. The purpose of this study was to add to the understanding of how exceptional patients perceive and explain their unusual experience. METHODS: We recruited patients for interviews from a population registry, patients with advanced lung or pancreatic malignancy who experienced exceptional survival. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: In total, 15 participants were interviewed. The main recurrent themes in most of the interviews were patient-doctor communication, family support and the patient's proactive attitude. In this study, patients attribute their longevity to relationships with their doctor and their family - not the type of treatment they received. Further research on this phenomenon is needed.
AIM: Unexplained prolonged survival given a diagnosis of incurable advanced cancer is a puzzling phenomenon that recently has attracted more scientific research. The purpose of this study was to add to the understanding of how exceptional patients perceive and explain their unusual experience. METHODS: We recruited patients for interviews from a population registry, patients with advanced lung or pancreatic malignancy who experienced exceptional survival. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: In total, 15 participants were interviewed. The main recurrent themes in most of the interviews were patient-doctor communication, family support and the patient's proactive attitude. In this study, patients attribute their longevity to relationships with their doctor and their family - not the type of treatment they received. Further research on this phenomenon is needed.
Entities:
Keywords:
alternative medicine; cancer care; cancer survival; complementary medicine; hope; patient–doctor communication; prognosis; spontaneous neoplasm regression; spontaneous remission
Authors: Moshe Frenkel; Joan C Engebretson; Sky Gross; Noemi E Peterson; Ariela Popper Giveon; Kenneth Sapire; Doron Hermoni Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2016-05-12 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Jennifer S Davis; Erin Prophet; Ho-Lan Peng; Hwa Young Lee; Rebecca S S Tidwell; J Jack Lee; Anish Thomas; Eva Szabo; Shine Chang Journal: JNCI Cancer Spectr Date: 2019-04-15