Survival was her Goal, I AM in that 5%!

Since success is the only Option!  I AM the 5%, which means she defied the odds of her stage 4 breast cancer.

Nestled in the woods of a subdivision in Westerville, Ohio, I visited with a beautiful and mature woman in her custom-built home. The woods, rustic outdoor furniture, serene views, and tall trees reminded me of an oasis of peace and tranquility. I imagined she often had this sense of peace when returning home from venturing out and about. This is where I met and heard the story of Hope Gerhardstein, a rather charming senior and former cardiac nurse willing to share her journey of being an 18+ year survivor of breast cancer. I could not help but notice her strong yet down-to-earth demeanor. After meeting her, it was clear she had come through her journey to bring the one thing to others that her name represents and stands for, HOPE! She embodies the true meaning of facing challenges head-on, and if you are steadfast and faithful to the treatment, you can improve your survival rate. Hope has come through her breast cancer journey and trial, victorious to get to the other side of the disease with grace, humility, and toughness of spirit. 

Her dad had a cancer diagnosis when she was just seven years old, and she remembers doing a lot of crying and praying for her dad. Hope says, “I grew up around cancer, Dad’s mother died from pancreatic cancer, and there is a lot of cancer on my dad’s side of the family.” Hope says that since she cared about animals and people, she thought being a nurse was a good fit as her chosen career. She has been married to her husband for 48 years, and they have three children.  They started off as pen and phone pals before meeting in person. She was in nursing school, and he was in the Navy. She states, “I think we were in love with each other before we ever met.”  

A self-proclaimed avid reader, Hope still reads daily, and it did not take long to figure out why and how she was ready to tackle this tough story of survival. It was one of the hardest things she would have to endure and ultimately overcome. “Success is the only option” became something she pondered as she began the fight of her life to survive a breast cancer diagnosis with metastasis to the liver and uterine cancer. While performing a breast self-examination, Hope found a lump in the right breast near her armpit.  Following a mammogram and ultrasound, she subsequently underwent a biopsy. The biopsy came back positively for invasive ductal carcinoma, which led to a lumpectomy and lymph node dissection in 2007. A month later, tests revealed that breast cancer was stage 4. A 3.5 cm tumor was found on the dome of the liver. Although this is a very serious diagnosis, she remembered reading something that stated, “If 95% of cancer patients are dead within five years of the diagnosis, why can’t I be one of the 5% that survives?” So, she set a goal through self-advocacy to make happen what she believed would inevitably be her outcome: survival.  When the oncologist asked if she wanted to know how long she had regarding her prognosis, she kindly responded, “NO!” This was because her dad, who was diagnosed with malignant melanoma cancer, was told he had six months to a year to live and ended up living an additional 40 years. She stated, “I am going to do the same!”  She believed, “If he can do it, I can do it.” She understood that the medical team must tell you the negative side of the prognosis so there is time for you to get your affairs in order. 

Hope states that during this time she was very emotional, where she would just break down and cry because she felt like she had no control over anything. When she tried to schedule her first appointment with the oncologist, she was told she was not allowed to do that, that only the surgeon has the authority to make those appointments. Being dumb founded, she thought, “he does not know my schedule. How is he going to know my schedule?” This started her on the road to greater self-advocacy, especially when it came to getting her treatments and appointments scheduled. With breast cancer having spread to her liver, she had chemotherapy to shrink it, then a partial liver resection to remove it. While these current treatments were effective, some of the medicines used caused precancerous cells to develop in the uterus, leading to hysterectomy and ovary removal in 2017.

Feeling some calm after the storm, further healing would occur as it took time for the treatments to take effect, yet often her home life would suffer. She did receive much-needed support from her family and friends, but her husband was battling depression, and she felt she needed to cry privately to protect him. In addition, she suffered from some depression, so going back to work was the help she needed by being able to talk to her co-workers and friends. She said she would pray to the Lord, “Please help me get through this”, and He did.  

After her diagnosis and treatment, every time she would hear of someone diagnosed with cancer, Hope said, “I was the person people would call to talk to.”  “And even from the professional cancer support community, the nurse in charge there would call and say, ‘Hey, Hope, I have this person who is upset with what they are going through, will you talk with them? ‘” She encouraged other patients to continue to enjoy life’s pleasures in moderation despite going through such strict and harsh treatment.  “It’s not like you have to give up every enjoyment in life, you just have to put in some limits and do things in moderation.”  “A lot of times, when people hear 'you have cancer, they automatically think, “I’m dying.” I like to be there to show them that, “Look I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, and it is 18 years later, and I am still here.” She believes this gives them hope that just because they have cancer does not mean they are going to die right away.  

After experiencing her successful advocacy plan, she recommends people to ask questions and get many opinions, because as she began her care routine, she felt a sense of urgency to get on board with treatment as soon as possible. Her oncologist was like, “you really want to get things going”, and this was because her birthday was coming, and the doctor said she should “slow down” because he wanted to get insurance and drug approvals.  However, she knew this plan was her best chance at survival.  

Hope also credits being a gym enthusiast and physical activity, especially after chemotherapy, helped with her going into remission.  She kept up her gym routine and believed the drugs were being circulated and directed to the rapidly growing cancer cells.  As a survivor, she noted that living a healthy lifestyle has benefits to help keep breast cancer from recurring by being physically active, keeping your weight down, eating healthy (including fresh fruits and vegetables), drinking water, not smoking, and limiting alcohol.  She prefers to eat at home, allowing for more control over unhealthy dietary processing and additives.  

During her treatment time, as progress was being made, Hope found many resources, particularly with the breast cancer support group meetings. There was a lot of literature available, and she became a volunteer with the second opinion clinic for breast cancer survivors. “Some of the information I gave out was regarding the best resources to go to in the area.” She advised that people should “be careful about what you hear and see on the internet because not everything is factual.”  “I do think you have to be your own best advocate and do not be afraid to ask questions and get more than one opinion.” A lot of patients have commented that “it is so nice to talk to somebody who has been there and has gone through it.” When people asked questions and expressed their fears, she would say, “I did not have any trouble at all with the treatments; I would just go to the gym and work out for an hour afterward.” Noting that their experience may be different, she would tell them they will receive anti-nausea medicines to prevent vomiting and medication to prevent allergic reactions, and that they would be monitored extensively.  

FINDING Your Higher Power through the Pain 

While sitting in the front room looking through her window, waiting for a friend to pick her up to drive her to the cancer center, she saw an incredible vision.  “It was a bright light moving in a circle like a 'Wheel of Light', getting bright and dim and bright again. At first, she thought it was her friend’s car and two headlights as she pulled into the driveway. She realized the vision was one light. She got up and opened the front door, and then the light disappeared, yet a calm presence remained. She believed she saw an angel at that moment and that this was God’s presence sweeping over her and telling her, “Do not worry, I will take care of you, just put your faith in me.” During chemo that day, she met a new friend who was the wife of a minister and was also undergoing breast cancer treatment. They prayed together, and after that, she did not worry as much about cancer.  She admits that during this time her faith increased, and she spoke to her pastor about the encounter, which became a catalyst for one of his sermons.   Hope states that she draws her strength from the Lord, as well as having family and friend support.  While working and going through her treatment, she was once told by someone from her job, “You have got to be one of the strongest people I know with what you are going through.”  Hope continued working the whole time she was receiving her cancer treatments. Noting, “I did not have any other choice, you can either lay down and cry, die, or you can get up and keep going and survive.” She knows she is alive 18+ years past the original diagnosis due to prayer, and God’s grace, positive lifestyle changes, and having positive influences in her life.

The advice she has for women is to “take one day at a time”, and “set small achievable goals while continuing to work towards the 'Big Picture' of where you want to be.” Always emphasizing advocacy, she shares, “you have to advocate, speak up, and stand up for yourself.” This advocacy work put her on what she calls “The journey of Encouragement,” where she continues to encourage people through the Second Opinion Clinic at Ohio Health, located in Columbus, Ohio. “This is probably why I’m still alive, so I can provide help to others, Hope says. At the clinic, the patients often have questions running through their minds, like, Should I do a lumpectomy or a mastectomy? They have concerns like, Should I take this drug, or should I do chemo, etc.  There is a group of doctors, including a plastic surgeon, an oncologist, and a radiologist, and they all meet to discuss the patient’s diagnosis and treatment options. Then it’s up to the patient, after reviewing the information, to decide whether they want to follow those recommendations. Hope believes this method is great because a lot of the patients, after speaking with the doctor, need clarity, and she goes in and reviews things with them to see if they feel like their questions have been answered.  

Hope has really become a social and community cancer resource since the very beginning of her diagnosis and treatment.  Whenever people heard of someone, they knew having cancer or of having it themselves, they would quickly call her, saying, “Hey Hope!” someone has this or that cancer problem, and she has been there to answer the call.  Helping numerous neighbors through a myriad of cancer diagnoses, doctor visits, and treatments, as well as being there for her family illnesses, definitely fits her call to action.  She shared that she has assisted many patients, and a friend once told her, "Just when I lost all hope, I found you!" She added, "My mother named me well!"   

Being an outgoing yet sensitive person, Hope believes she inherited her strength and helpful, caring heart from her mother, who is 91 years old. Some things she values most are being married and her family overall, as well as her pets, which include two dogs.  Important causes today include her cancer patient advocacy work and affiliation with organizations like the Second Opinion Clinic through Ohio Health. She admonishes people to “Live each day to the fullest”! Adding that after cancer, you can live victoriously, yet it may be a new normal for you, depending on the severity of the treatment.