Mike Armstrong’s Cancer with Hope (Johns Hopkins University Press) presents a compelling vision of personal resilience in the face of a life-changing diagnosis. Co-written with Eric A. Vohr, the book blends Armstrong’s personal account of his own journey following two different cancer diagnoses and associated treatments with narratives from others whose lives have been touched by the disease.
The book’s foreword is written by Theodore DeWeese, Johns Hopkins Medicine dean of clinical affairs and professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences (and interim dean of the university’s medical faculty and chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine as of July 1.) DeWeese led the Johns Hopkins team that provided treatment for Armstrong’s prostate cancer.
After a distinguished career as a CEO at Comcast, AT&T and Hughes Electric, Armstrong’s service and philanthropy have shaped the trajectory of Johns Hopkins Medicine, most notably with a $10 million gift to establish the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality — an initiative inspired by Armstrong’s own experience with a medical error that nearly cost him his life.
Armstrong, retired chairman of Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Hospital Board of Trustees, also provided funding for the Anne and Mike Armstrong Medical Education Building. In addition, his philanthropy is making Cancer with Hope a go-to guide for those whose lives are touched by the disease, as a growing number of cancer treatment centers (including the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center) now provide copies of the book donated by the author to patients and caregivers.
In the Q&A that follows, Armstrong talks about his inspiration for writing Cancer with Hope.
Your book identifies our personal stories as the reservoir from which we draw hope in adversity.
Hope has been a constant narrative in my life ever since I was a young child growing up in a working-class Detroit neighborhood during World War II. In those days, we had to make a lot of sacrifices. From a very early age, hope was a key factor that enabled me to overcome numerous obstacles and lean years when hard work was the norm and nothing was taken for granted.
What do readers gain from the stories of survivors — as well as those involved in cancer treatment and recovery?
Cancer touches people from every background imaginable. And while we often don’t share common personal histories and experiences, it’s remarkable how much we have in common in regard to cancer. That is what really inspired me to write this book. I wanted to expand on those commonalities and share what I and others have learned from our interactions with this terrible disease.
Cancer’s immense physical toll requires persistence. How do we persevere in hope despite personal agony?
Many struggle to find hope in the face of cancer. Cancer is unpredictable and random, and no matter what we do, there are no guarantees that we will survive. It is such a devastating intrusion into our lives, so it’s understandable that some lose the path to hope. The intent of my book is only to help people find that path. Hope can be hard to come by when facing cancer, but it’s a valuable tool.
How did your own desire for authoritative information after your first cancer diagnosis inform the array of trusted websites, useful questions, glossary and treatment centers you offer in Cancer with Hope?
When I first thought about writing a book on cancer, I wanted to tell my personal story. However, as the book evolved and I did more research, I broadened the scope of that lens. Through this process, I also connected with some of America’s top oncologists and researchers — many of them working at Johns Hopkins. So, in addition to telling stories about hope, I wanted to also provide useful resources to enable my readers to find their path to hope.
Cultivating hope also spurs your own philanthropy. How is hope allied with tangible solidarity and giving?
In my book, I talk a lot about purpose. For me, purpose meant having something to strive for outside of my personal comfort zone. Cancer helped me widen my experience and my awareness. I think it has the potential to do that for many people, especially since it forces us to consider our own death, which is an expansive concept. I found purpose in giving back to the world, and this really helped me manage all that I was going through. It put my focus on something positive.
Near the end of Cancer with Hope, you share a moving story about Fred Scholtz, a friend who spent his final days successfully finishing a book that shared his life experience. What power resides in our words when shared with others?
We are often swept up in the current of life. Hours become days, days become weeks, months, years. Before we know it, we are looking back on our life instead of looking forward. Cancer illuminates all of this and makes us really appreciate our time and really think about how we are using it. Fred was a good friend, and long before I faced cancer, he taught me the importance of taking stock in your life and making sure you make the most of your time on this planet.
