When Breath Becomes Air

Breaking the news at a hospital bedside…

Doctor: How do you feel?

George: Dreadful night. Didn’t think I’d make it. What is it?

Doctor: I was puzzled why we weren’t making progress. We ran some more tests. We got the latest results.

George: And?

Doctor: George. It’s cancer. In the lungs.

George: (blinks) Well, that’s a relief. We know what it is now.

Doctor: We can approach this two ways. One, stitch up the lung, buy you a little more time. Or two, give you medications and make you feel more comfortable.

George: Not keen on intervention. I’m 99. Give me some relief.

Doctor: Then let’s do that.

________

Voice-over

George had Stage IV adenocarcinoma. At 99, he was not in his thirties like Paul Kalanithi, suffering from the same cancer who with his youth, vitality, knowledge, top-line attending doctors didn’t make it past 37. His memoir, “When Breath Becomes Air” was an inspiring bestseller. At 99, the chances of coming through an operation are very low, and surviving more than a year lower yet. Palliative care: make the patient comfortable.