A physician’s memoir of a son’s and his own early-onset cancer

Sidney Farber, M.D. (1903-1973), of Children’s Hospital, Boston, with a patient. Dr. Farber, a pediatric pathologist, is regarded as the father of modern chemotherapy. The famed Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston, is named for him and philanthropist Charles Dana. Some of Dr. George H. Beauregard’s book, Reservation for 9, occurs at Dana-Farber.

Numerous cell signaling pathways are disrupted in the development of cancer.

— Graphic by Roadnottaken

Adapted from Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com

I’ve been watching a physician/health-care executive friend, George H. Beauregard, prepare a book, yet to be published, titled Reservation for 9, that’s both a memoir and a medical saga, most of it set in Greater Boston.

The book tells how he and his son Patrick developed different advanced-stage  early-onset cancers  (early onset defined as cancers diagnosed in patients under 50), creating seismic changes in their lives, and those of their whole colorful  nuclear family of six, that accompanied their illnesses. It’s a story about a complex family history, fear, grief and hope, along with the science and institutions of medicine, and provides much insight for others battling the disease.

There has been an alarming global increase in the incidence of cancer affecting younger adults. Patrick’s colorectal cancer was diagnosed when he was 29, and it killed him at 32, but not before he became an inspiring  national spokesman for other victims. Dr. Beauregard, for his part, was diagnosed with bladder cancer  at age 49 but is now apparently cured.

Patrick’s story continues to be cited in national news media, including recently in The Wall Street Journal.

Appearing as a guest on the Today Show on March 10, 2020,  he said:

“In a situation like this, your mind can either liberate you or essentially incarcerate you...and you choose what to make of it.’’

“I don’t see the point in being negative in this. Negativity is only going to bring on more negativity. I choose to have a positive outlook and always have hope, and I don’t see why you would ever decide not to.” 

Results from The Reproducibility Project: Cancer biology suggest most studies of the cancer research sector may not be replicable.