By Angela Borchert and Liz Madison, Vitals contributors
Hearing a cancer diagnosis, in any language, can feel disorienting for the person on the receiving end. Helen Laffin, a 58-year-old grandmother from Folsom, Calif., learned she had stage 3 ovarian cancer in February 2023. However, as gynecologic oncologist Dr. Amanda Shepherd-Littlejohn discussed the diagnosis with her, it was buffered by the connection they already shared through language. When they first met, the women discovered they spoke Portuguese.
“Having a physician who spoke my same language was a good bridge for us,” said Laffin. “It almost felt like I was speaking with my doctor in Brazil. It was familiar and comfortable.”
Dr. Amanda Shepherd-Littlejohn
That connection created a safe place for Laffin. Anxieties eased while discussing the brilliant landscape of the Azores, the area where Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn is from in Portugal, full of blue hydrangeas and green pastures. Endorphins surged as they reminisced about dishes such as bacalhoada portuguesa, a salt cod stew, and pão de queijo, a popular Brazilian cheese bread that’s eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
“I loved that we were able to keep things light during my visit when I needed it to be,” Laffin said.
These trips down memory lane were what Laffin needed to embark on her next journey: cancer treatment. She wanted to explore integrative and holistic therapies—a growing field in cancer care—and one Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn and other oncologists in the Sutter Health system are making available to patients.
Treatment Explorations
Laffin is not alone in her quest for alternative treatment methods that embrace mind, body and spirit. According to a recent study by the Samueli Foundation’s Integrative Health Programs, 62% of people with cancer wanted to know about complementary therapies such as exercise, nutritional counseling, massage and meditation when initiating conventional treatment.
Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn listened to how Laffin wanted to approach treatment while also asking questions about her medical history and her support network of family and friends—all important factors in personalizing Laffin’s care down to the finer details. Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn paired that with available information on holistic treatments and data on the outcomes of patients who undergo chemotherapy.
Helen Laffin and Dr Sivakumar Reddy discuss her health progress in 2023.
“If we listen to our patients and give them what they need while also providing evidence-based care, we will have better outcomes,” said Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn.
Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn partnered with Dr. Sivakumar Reddy, a Sutter oncologist in Roseville, as well as Kathryn A. Opalenik, a Sutter oncological nurse practitioner, to help Laffin pursue a hybrid approach that followed the medical standards for ovarian cancer treatment while incorporating integrative medicine such as acupuncture. Before her hysterectomy, Laffin had even requested Christian worship music to play during the operation, to which Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn kindly agreed.
“It’s important to keep an open mind for each patient so we can create a harmonious treatment plan together,” said Dr. Reddy.
The Road Ahead
After six rounds of chemo that concluded last August, there is no indication of cancer in Laffin’s body. She continues acupuncture treatments with Opalenik and monitors her hormones with supplements and healthy dietary choices.
“I am doing very good,” she said. “I am feeling healthy, and my energy is coming back. I am not 100% yet, but I have gotten back into working out to add some activity to my day. I am very happy.”
Dr. Shepherd-Littlejohn is pleased with Laffin’s progress, as it reaffirms the importance of care tailored to the individual.
“Our patients need to know that they are not just a number. We will personalize their care and get to know them as individuals to help them achieve their best health outcomes,” she said.
