Hope as a bridge to post-traumatic growth

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) has been characterized as the subjective appraisal of growth, or personal development, following a confrontation with an array of high-impact challenges in life (Psychol Inq 15:1–18, 2004). Song et al. found that patients with cancer may be described by three profiles with regard to symptom burden and PTG. We are particularly interested in what their analyses reveal about the relationship between optimistic attitude and PTG (Supportive Care in Cancer, 2024). Furthermore, we propose that “hope” rather than “optimism” be the focus for clinicians who seek to channel the trauma associated with malignant disease towards PTG.