What, precisely, are we seeking to achieve in offering 'life-saving' treatment to patients with cancer? Research funding agencies and pharmaceutical industry media releases, and government cancer screening programs all promise that their cancer programs save lives. But everybody dies. The nature of life and death from cancer is explored philosophically in this essay, with particular reference to the quality of life, and its meaning, during the period of prolongation of survival by 'life-saving' cancer care.
Keywords: ars moriendi; cancer cure; cognitive flexibility; control; palliation; radioligand theranostics Phronesis; raison d'être; survivorship.