Satya N. Das

I can only imagine how awestruck William Coley, MD, must have been in 1891 when he observed some patients with advanced bone tumors experience near miraculous tumor regressions after he injected them with a concoction of bacterial toxins. I experienced this same wonder in my previous life as a treating oncologist.

How is it that we can be so wrong on the matter of time, time and time again? It is the question all of us on this side of the examination table dread facing the most, “How much time do I have left, doctor?” When you ask me the question, I cannot quite believe we are at this chapter of your story. This is the conversation I could not fathom having, at least not now, and certainly not over the phone.

The Other Side of the Waterfall I count down the days until your first scan, I cannot wait to see the drastic tumor shrinkage, to burst into your clinic room and convey the news before any other words have been spoken, Your tumor has an Achilles heel, a needle in a haystack, We have a targeted arrow to fire, a drug which has been approved for tumors with this exact vulnerability, another needle in an even bigger haystack, The drug has been shown to be a roaring success, from the press...