Radical Remissions: Unique Lessons from Patients with Cancer Who Were Able to Defy the Odds and Recover

Many women with aggressive BC subtypes are devastated, due to metastatic spread, resistance to therapy, and poor prognosis. However, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that some patients have been able to defy the odds of advanced malignancy and recover, in spite of their fatal prognosis and dismal oncology statistics. Also, these “better than expected” clinical effects were not totally rare. To explore this fascinating subject, future research is undoubtedly necessary. In line with this challenge, the innovative “Radical Remission Project” was created, which allows collecting cases of Radical Remissions for research studies. It also connects survivors with patients, who actually struggle with aggressive cancers. Since there is a concern about giving false hope to patients with advanced malignancies, they need to be professionally informed that the cases of Radical Remissions must be first explored in detailed research studies, before making any conclusions about their potential applicability to patients with similar prognoses. This is necessary to protect the most vulnerable patients, who must not be given any false expectations, and the practical communication skills of the cancer care teams are crucial to accomplish it. In addition, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM), which manages the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients with cancer, regardless of their prognosis, appears to be helpful in an attempt to meet these needs. CIM is gradually becoming a part of each stage of the cancer journey, from active to supportive and palliative oncology care. Similarly, integrative oncology that uses evidence-based, lifestyle modifications, mind-body techniques, and specific natural products in combination with conventional anticancer treatments is in line with patients’ safety. This chapter briefly addresses some universal factors, which can make a genuine difference to help in recovery from cancer, based on the Radical Remission Project and CIM-related research. It focuses on the role of open and precise communication between patients and cancer care teams. The ongoing Radical Remission Project can inspire many women with breast cancer (BC) and their medical teams to consider introducing some safe and useful approaches to their standard oncology management. 

Keywords: Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM), Communication, Decision-making, Integrative oncology, Radical remissions, Supportive care.