When Breath Becomes Air: A Conversation with Lucy Kalanithi about Life, Death, and Humanity

Illness and death are universal challenges, but not something we anticipate in our 30s. Kate Bowler and Lucy Kalanithi understand that any of us can confront these harsh realities at any time. Bowler was 35 when she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. She tried to make sense of it in Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved. Kalanithi, an internal medicine doctor, completed her husband Paul’s manuscript, When Breath Becomes Air, after the neurosurgeon died of lung cancer at the age of 37. The two women discuss life, death, and the pursuit of humanity in American health care.
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[@k4xxxminecrafter792]

You two are amazingly brave and so very articulate. Thank you so much

[@user-yr6wk6us5t]

Thanks for the sharing. Found this so useful. Glad to hear the misnomers about palliative care too.

[@sottovoce7195]

I wish it were possible to get palliative care for mental health issues such as PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder.

[@osamaafif]

Thank you Kate 🙏❤️
Thank you Lucy 🙏❤️

[@lindacoonrod4272]

Unfortunately not all palliative care is equally available. My 90 year old mom was refused, bedbound, nonverbal as dementia was depriving her quality of life.

[@maretyler1969]

Immunotherapy has been around for years. The patent for rituxin is 25 years it’s over

[@sottovoce7195]

You kind of missed the point of this video, didn’t you?