ATIMEOFHOPE
SOME CANADIANS WITH CANCER ARE ARE LIVING LONGER
In the last five years, Lorne Cochrane has gone from the shock of an advanced cancer diagnosis and shortened life expectancy to become a symbol of hope for cancer survivors.
His journey of survival began when his twin brother, Lloyd, was diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer. Although his brother had been very unwell for some time before he was diagnosed and Cochrane appeared perfectly healthy, he went for a precautionary health checkup, as his mother and two aunts had died from cancer.
The result was a shock, he says. Not only was Cochrane’s cancer much more advanced than his brother’s, but it had also metastasized to numerous parts of his body.
“The tests found 26 tumours in various organs and the doctors gave me little more than a year to live with treatment,” says Cochrane, a retired welder who had been exposed to radon gas during the 13 years he lived in Uranium City, Sask. “When you get diagnosed, the first thing you think about is what caused it. I knew cancer ran in the family and when I started welding, we didn’t have access to masks and respirators. But there was no point in wasting time thinking about all that, especially as I didn’t think I had much time left.”
After a year of chemotherapy, there seemed to be little improvement in his condition. “By that time, I was having a hard time breathing,” says Cochrane.“When they sent me home after 12 months of chemo, we were all convinced I was going home to die.”
Determined to make the most of his remaining time, however short, he and his wife, Mary, threw a big birthday bash, thinking it would be his last. He was also enrolled in a clinical trial for an immuno-oncology treatment. Immuno-oncology is a new way of treating cancer that harnesses the body’s own immune system to detect and fight cancer cells.
In Cochrane’s case, the results were dramatic. “After six weeks in the trial, there were major improvements,” he says. “After 16 weeks, there were no signs of any tumours and I felt better than I had in years. I don’t know if it would have worked for my brother because he died before he had the chance to try it. I know that there isn’t a one-fix-all treatment and don’t want to give people false hope. But going by what happened to me, there is definitely hope for some.”
“It’s been a very emotional ride for us,” says Mary Cochrane. “But it’s also been a really great experience. Now, we’re involved in peerto- peer support, sharing what we’ve gone through. The best part of the journey is helping others. If you can give them hope, you can give them the strength to carry on.”
Cochrane is eager to share his experiences with others to offer support and inspiration. He feels that he is living example of how medical research is giving more hope to more people and wants others the be encouraged by his story.
Most recently, he was involved in a photo-documentary project called #CancerChanged which highlighted his story.
“This is a time of change and a time of hope,” says Kathy Barnard of CONECTed, a Canadian collective of patient organizations. “New advances in cancer treatment have changed the outlook for many cancer patients. Survivorship poses new challenges such as how patients transition from a terminal diagnosis to a redefined ‘normal’ life embracing quality time and hope.”
Cochrane’s photo- essay, and others, can be viewed at saveyourskin.ca/CONECTed. Talk to your doctor about treatment options.