Takuro Morinaga’s Fight Against Cancer Shows the Impact of the New Cancer Treatment “Do What You Want to Do Until the End of Your Life” on the Medical Community

Importance of QOL-oriented treatment

On January 28, 2025, Takuro Morinaga, a longtime economic analyst, passed away at the age of 67.

At the end of 2023, he announced that he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer (later diagnosed as cancer of unknown primary). Despite being told by his doctors that it might be difficult to see the cherry blossoms next year, he lived about 10 months longer than his life expectancy, and left behind many words and writings. His way of life caused a stir in the way cancer treatment is provided, and many medical professionals say that there were many things to learn from him.

The conventional approach to cancer treatment focused on “curing the disease,” sometimes at the expense of the patient’s quality of life (QOL). However, the attitude of Ms. Morinaga, who places the highest priority on “living life as one’s own person” and balancing treatment with it, “once again shows the importance of patient-centered medicine,” said Dr. Yu Masumori, a specialist in general medicine at Hakodate Ryohoku Hospital’s Department of General Medicine (Masumori’s remarks appear in parentheses).

Mr. Morinaga continued to work until his last days, cherished his time with his family, and appeared on a radio program until the day before he passed away. This is different from the conventional notion that cancer patients should rest. Rather, I think it suggests that a fuller life enhances the effectiveness of treatment.

According to Masumori, there are many benefits to maintaining quality of life in cancer treatment.

Maintaining an unchanged daily routine keeps patients mentally stable and increases their motivation for treatment,” he said. A less stressful living environment may also improve the immune system. Mr. Morinaga has appeared frequently in the media to convey his message and has worked all night to publish a number of books. Doing “what you want to do” in a limited amount of time Doing what you want to do with the limited time you have will increase your satisfaction with life. Spending time with your family gives you emotional support.

Of course, not all cancer patients should do this.

“Treatment that emphasizes quality of life does not necessarily guarantee prolongation of life. In this day and age, when one in two people has cancer, especially in patients with advanced cancer, the goal is not only to “cure” the disease, but also to “live with cancer, In this day and age, when one in two people has cancer, the goal is not only to cure the disease, but also to “live with cancer. Mr. Morinaga showed us how to “live in harmony with cancer. This will be an important aspect of cancer treatment in the future.