How do I treat when there is no treatment?

1 Introduction

With more than 7,000 rare diseases and under 700 treatments, the most common, single treatment prescribed is not a medication or gene therapy; instead, it is supportive therapies to improve overall quality of life. Rather than saying “there is no treatment”, providers instead say, “there is no cure, but we have so many ways to optimize life to its fullest.” While often considered a need for oncology patients, palliative care is important for children and adults with life-shortening rare disorders. Unlike the adult palliative care population, only 30-40% of the patients in pediatric palliative care have cancer [5]. In a care center in British Columbia, the leading cause for palliative care referral was central nervous system conditions (27%), followed by chromosomal anomalies (20%), and then cancer (16%). Metabolic or biochemical abnormalities (14%), cardiopulmonary (10%), and immunologic or infectious etiologies were less commonly seen in the patient population (1%) [25]. Similar findings have been seen in the United States [5, 7]. Thus, the expected patient participants in pediatric palliative care are less commonly oncological patients and more commonly those diagnosed by the genetics and metabolism community.

For some diagnoses, the approach is to optimize supportive therapies and interventions for a child or adult with rare disorders. This approach has been well characterized in treatment guidelines. For example, in many metabolic disorders there is no cure or medication treatment, but extreme dietary interventions can improve outcomes and quality of life for the patient [13].

At the end of many of these potentially distressing conversations is the hope of treatments in the “pipeline” and helping the patient enroll in research trials. The more difficult conversation for practitioners is not that there is no cure or treatment, but that we cannot prevent early death. The provider has to balance hope for a treatment in the future with the reality of the life expectancy for the patient. In this challenging situation, setting reasonable expectations requires a hopeful honesty.

Familiar with the natural history of the rare diseases, it is often the geneticist who initiates the palliative care referral. While nearly non-existent in the genetics and metabolism field, lessons learned from oncology show that inclusion of a palliative care physician and/or team is helpful for the family in comparison to care by the oncologist alone [12, 14]. In addition, the palliative team is often more comfortable and experienced with balancing hope and planning for an early death with families. These difficult discussions are truly ongoing conversations, and do not occur in just one meeting. The long-term progression towards acceptance is important for both families and care providers.

2 Palliative approaches can be customized to unique diagnoses

The holistic approach to palliative care developed with oncology patients can also be effective for children with rare disorders, with some caveats. Pediatric palliative care is a holistic approach that prevents, identifies, and treats all types of physical and non-physical suffering in children with a serious illness such as a genetic disorder [7]. The traditional hospice program for cancer patients can more easily prognosticate a six-month survival trajectory and focus on end of life and “dying well.” In contrast, the trajectory of genetic and metabolic disorders is much less focused. Fragile patients with chronic, slowly progressive disease may succumb to their illness as a result of an acute event, such as infection. A more contemporary model for pediatric palliative care for genetic and metabolic disorders is required. This would include initiating care at the time of diagnosis of a life-limiting illness with a focus on aggressive symptom management in order to optimize quality of life and achieve individualized goals. These goals are best achieved through ongoing, fluid conversations between families and caregivers. The patient, if able, along with the family shares their wishes and hopes. The pediatric palliative care team offers therapeutic presence to facilitate understanding and acclimation to the “new normal” with adjusted goals and expectations. In addition to easing comfort and increasing the potential to achieve goals, optimizing quality of life through aggressive symptom management is also necessary to allow for higher order tasks such as advanced care planning, memory making, and anticipatory bereavement.

Even though the lifespan may be shortened, the time spent can be very meaningful and precious. A position paper from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that pediatric palliative care should emphasize quality rather than quantity by focusing on adding “life to the child’s years, not simply years to the child’s life” [1]. An instructive video prepared for the AAP illustrating this approach in a rare disease patient is Cameron’s Arc. Open communication and clear goals for care planning and delivery are also important to avoid conflict and misunderstanding [2, 6]. Ongoing communication about what to expect in the final days and weeks is critical in helping families through this difficult time. In a landmark qualitative study, bereaved parents shared that pain, dyspnea, anorexia, and fatigue were the four most bothersome symptoms in their dying child [26].

3 Symptoms can be managed effectively

Another role of the geneticist is to understand and treat the pain associated with a given disease such as visceral, neurologic, or bone-mediated pain. By understanding the underlying etiology of disease, effective first- and second-line pain management plans can often be optimized for each patient. For example, the pain profiles in mucopolysaccharidoses and sphingolipidoses have been characterized and some disorders even have pain management treatment guidelines [4]. For ultra-rare disorders there are often no guidelines or case reports to follow. Thus, pain and distressing symptoms must be addressed on a case by case basis by providers expert in diverse management strategies.

Pain assessment in the neurologically impaired child is a challenge. As Hauer discusses in her seminal work, identifying pain signs and symptoms is the first step towards managing pain [9]. While self-report of pain is the gold standard, using validated assessment tools such as a behavioral assessment tool is necessary in young or nonverbal children. Once the level of pain has been identified, it is then necessary to define pain versus agitation versus visceral hyperalgesia [9]. Thus, pain management approaches for concerns for visceral hyperalgesia could include anti-epileptic medications, tricyclic antidepressants, α agonists, to opioids [9]. In addition, hip subluxation, spasticity, pressure ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux are common sources of pain. These require specific managements based on their etiologies. Thus, a careful assessment of pain level and suspected pain source will directly alter medication management.

4 The geneticist and the diagnostic odyssey

Patients with suspected genetic conditions and their families have different needs that must be met by a variety of qualified medical providers. In addition to medical management such as medication changes, screenings, or quality of life care, many families struggle with obtaining an accurate diagnosis. These patients may be referred to the genetics clinic as part of the “diagnostic odyssey”. Even after obtaining a diagnosis for their child parents have many questions. The first is often, “Why did this happen?” Genetic testing may provide the answer. When test results are diagnostic, genetic counselors can help families understand the mechanism of disease and the spectrum of impact this may mean for the child’s health and development.

The second question quickly follows is, “Is this my fault?” Parents feel a deep responsibility for their children, not only in being able to care and provide for them, but also in what they may have unknowingly passed to them through their DNA. Conversations about inheritance and “passing down” genetic mutations can bring up feelings of guilt or confusion. It is important for parents to hear that there is nothing they did or did not do that caused the genetic problem in their child and that none of us has control over which genes we pass our children. It is also critical to allow time for parents to process their feelings and come to terms with what they have heard. Interestingly, many parents find relief of guilt whether results of testing are positive or negative [3, 22]. The third question is “What does the future hold?” The genetic counselor and geneticist are empowered to work together with all members of the child’s care team to determine a specific care plan and expected prognosis based on genetic testing results.

Finally, families often have questions about recurrence risk, either for existing family members or for future pregnancies. The genetic counselor can often provide precise information regarding risk for other family members, discuss reproductive options, and facilitate referrals to maternal fetal medicine providers.

Genetic counselors are equal part genetics expert and counselor. The psychosocial impacts of these questions and the resulting conversations are complex, challenging, and can be life-changing. In addition to having highly specialized training in genetics, they are well trained in psychosocial counseling techniques to facilitate the difficult conversations and strong feelings that surround the diagnostic odyssey.

5 Quality of life can be optimized

As we have discussed, improving the quality of life, regardless of its length, is the goal for all of the team. To this end, leveraging community-based services, supports, and resources is essential. From programs that help with rent and mortgage costs, to meal vouchers, and teachers who ensure a child is included regardless of their ability to fully participate, the greater community should be leveraged early and often to support families. In our group, we initially viewed this leveraging of services as a “service” to the child, but soon found that it was also the ideal opportunity for the community to understand rare disease, the need for treatments, and to affirm altruism within the larger community. Often families with rare diseases feel isolated or “unseen”. Leveraging community involvement made families feel recognized and cared for in unexpected ways by community members.

One important way for families to feel accepted and loved is through the Make-A-Wish program. While traditionally thought of as a program for children with cancer, the program has always strived to provide a Wish for every eligible child. Recent studies show a reduction in unplanned hospitalizations and improved quality of life in children who received a Wish [20, 24]. In response to feedback from the rare disease community, the national office of Make-A-Wish has created a list of genetic and metabolic diagnoses that will automatically qualify a child for a Wish and launched outreach to hospice programs to enable more eligible children with genetic and metabolic disorders to receive a Wish. A Wish is not only fun for the family, but gives them an opportunity to live life without the focus on their rare disease for a few days. They get to create their own destiny; meet their hero; or make the lives of others better. In degenerative conditions it is important to identify the right time for a Wish. It should be early enough in the illness that the child and family can fully participate. Early conversations with the local Make-A-Wish organization are important to find the right time and the right Wish for any child.

The religious or spiritual beliefs of a family are an important component of the entire palliative care process. Understanding the family’s beliefs and the community-based supports stemming from their spiritual community are an important mechanism to improve quality of life for the patient and family [10]. For providers who do not have a spiritual or faith base, this can be a difficult discussion and one may find a family and provider talking past one another. It is important that providers are comfortable initiating spiritual conversations, or helping to identify spiritual resources for families that may include the hospital chaplain, a colleague with a similar faith base, or other outside support mechanisms [18].

Regardless of the location of the family, exploration of existing community resources to optimize access to community programs is essential. Whether through a spiritual or faith-based organization, social worker, community partnership, school system, health care system, or non-profit organizations, ensuring the family has community-based support helps them to feel connected and supported.

6 The team must also care for itself

It can be hard for geneticists and team members to find the way to emotionally process giving a difficult or terminal diagnosis, or a diagnosis for which there is not yet an effective treatment. Ongoing exposure to suffering contributes to provider stress and may lead to compassion fatigue and burnout [16]. As a professional community, we need to accept these difficulties and acknowledge the stress and distress this can bring to all of us. In the same way that we ask families to mourn their children, we need to create spaces to mourn our own losses-both personal and professional. By caring for ourselves, we avoid compassion fatigue, promote resiliency, and enhance what we do have to offer, excellent care for our patients [11, 23]. The first step in self-care is awareness of the risk factors and realizing that the level of stress is commensurate with the intensity, duration, and proximity of exposure [17].

Seasoned geneticists know the experience of caring for a child from birth through their death, an experience that is both satisfying and gut-wrenching. The experiences of giving difficult diagnoses and initiating palliative care may cause stress, but many providers also feel that being part of this experience provides satisfaction and adds meaning to their work.

In addition to caring for families, we must also care for ourselves and for each other. Whether it is acknowledging that we as providers have “lost” a patient, or creating a place or time to remember them, or remembering a patient’s name when others have forgotten, we live in the dichotomy of grief and joy for a life well lived.