Exceptional patients- Who are they?

The exceptional patient with cancer is a puzzling phenomenon that has not been formally investigated. These are the people who survive a particularly deadly form of cancer that usually proves fatal within months; yet, years later these individuals continue to live and thrive. They are the ones that represent the exception in the statistics. The rare and spectacular occurrence of remarkable recovery against all odds, totally inexplicable but real, is something that many oncologists have seen in their practice. 

Research

Research on this topic is very limited. In the past, other terms have been used to describe the phenomenon: “spontaneous remission,” “spontaneous healing”, “spontaneous regression”, “miracle cures”,  “remarkable recovery”, and “exceptional disease course”.

Most previous studies mentioned the phenomenon of exceptional disease course as a rare occurrence. However, few recent reports suggest that exceptional disease course might occur much more often than what was estimated previously.

Explanation for this phenomenon

There is no clear explanation for the phenomenon. Some researchers note that some exceptional patients experience a spiritual awakening before the remission took place, suggesting that the patients themselves had an important role in the healing process. 

During the last few years, we have identified a large number of these patients. We spoke to them and their families discussed their perception on the reason for their success and slowly gathered valuable lessons. In consultations we describe some of these patients,  the lessons we learned from them and in certain situations discuss how to implement

these lessons.

 

 

We recommend to all patients that have interest in this topic to look at a few resources:

Exceptional Patients Study 2016

 

Exceptional Patients or Exceptional Doctors- Patient Doctor Communication as a Survival Factor?

 

Living outliers: experiences, insights and narratives of exceptional survivors of incurable cancer

 

Activism among  Exceptional Patients with cancer

 

  NCI Clinical Trial

 

  Clinical Trials 2014 NCI

 

 

Exceptional Responders Initiative NCI Study 2018

 

 

The  exceptional patient 2010

           

 

The exceptional patient- 2013

 

Integrative oncology and exceptional patients- Thoughts and Reflections Dr Frenkel

The Exceptional Patient in Cancer Care

Six months to live ten years later....

Six months  to live....youtube

Six months to live ten years later....Hebrew  

Exceptional Patients

Exceptional patients Menta (Hebrew) April 2010

Refusing Treatment

 Perspective of one patient

Informing Hope JCO June 2010

 

Remarkable Recovery Authors: Caryle Hirshberg and Marc Ian Barasch

Publisher: Riverhead (March 8, 1995)

 
 The will to live - Rachel Naomi Remen 

The will to live- Youtube

If she can do it....   video

Common Attributes of "Miracle Survivors" 

From Incurable to Incredible
This unique book  "From Incurable to Incredible" features 27 stories of cancer survivors who 
shocked everyone by overcoming a terminal prognosis. 

 6 Months to Live 10 Years Later: An Extraordinary Healing Journey & Guide to Well Being.

   MS Exceptional Patient- Dr  Terry Wahls

The Happy Secret  TED 2012

-  TED Lecture-   Blue ZONE Secret to Longevity

Hope

 Medicine of Hope Video of Jeffrey Rediger MD Harvard Psychiatrist on Spontaneous Remission 

Kelly Turner- Against All Odds:  Cancer counselor and researcher Dr. Kelly A. Turner, PhD describes her innovative research on Unexpected Cancer Remission  6 Behaviours 

Making tough decisions  after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

Radical remission- Medscape 2014

Radical Remission- The summary of Kelly Turner work published recently

Spontaneous Remission- Link to a text that was published by Institute of Noetic Sciences  in 1993 which is a   compilation of 3500 references of spontaneous remission.

Even with pancreatic cancer there are survivors- Link to a few stories 

Dr Oz and Exceptional Patients 

The Remarkable Story of Ernestine Shepherd

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