Robert A. Buckman, M.D., Ph.D.
Adjunct professor, Behavioral
Science
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center
Dr. Buckman:
So nothing on physical examination as
always, perfect from there. Blood test is fine. Chest X-ray is fine, all clear.
Mr. Carter:
I told you.
Dr. Buckman:
Well...
Mr. Carter:
I told you.
Dr. Buckman:
[Laughter] I think you did. Yes.
Mr. Carter:
Two years. Two years.
Dr. Buckman:
Yes.
Mr. Carter:
Part of the 15 percent.
Dr. Buckman:
I have to say, you're absolutely right. You
remembered that conversation very well.
Mr. Carter:
Oh, I remember that conversation very, very
well...
Dr. Buckman:
Right now...
Mr. Carter:
...all that medical bullshit you were
throwing at me was scare tactics to scare the daylights out of me.
Dr. Buckman:
Well...
Mr. Carter:
Didn't work.
Dr. Buckman:
[Laughter] I, of course, would say that it
did, to the extent that you had the treatment. All I can say is, right now, you
clearly are in that 15 percent.
Mr. Carter:
Right.
Dr. Buckman:
I just want to add one important note. It
doesn't promise us that the cancer won't come back in the future. It definitely
is not back at this moment, but all you can say with small cell lung cancer at
each visit is, "You're fine now." We can't ever predict the future. It's not
that kind of disease, unfortunately.
Mr. Carter:
No, but I made it past the 2 years.
Dr. Buckman:
You absolutely did.
Mr. Carter:
I'm part of the 15 percent. Everything on
that checklist, checks. I feel great.
Dr. Buckman:
And that's the important thing. You feel
really, really great.
Mr. Carter:
Right.
Dr. Buckman:
The rotten time with the chemo was worth it.
You feel really great.
Mr. Carter:
Oh, I don't want to repeat that.
Dr. Buckman:
No. Right now, you are absolutely clear.
Mr. Carter:
Right.
Dr. Buckman:
And each visit I will tell you how you're
doing. I'm still aware there's a chance of it coming back. That chance does, for
what it's worth, get a little bit less as time goes on. But right now, you're
doing fine.
Mr. Carter:
Right, and next time it will be okay, and the
time after that'll be okay, and the time after that'll be okay.
Dr. Buckman:
I wish I could make money predicting. I have
no crystal ball, but right now, you're fine.
Mr. Carter:
Right.
Dr. Buckman:
Okay, Mr. Carter. Thanks a lot.
Mr. Carter:
Thank you.
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