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.

Development of Highly Effective Immunotherapy

Is there any evolution in cancer treatment itself? Masumori indicated the following directions.

– Advancement of personalized medicine

By utilizing technologies such as genome analysis, it will become possible to select a treatment method that is tailored to the characteristics of each patient’s cancer. This is expected to realize more effective treatment with fewer side effects.

– Evolution of Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, is a new treatment method to fight cancer by enhancing the patient’s own immunity, rather than directly attacking cancer cells. In the future, even more effective immunotherapies will be developed.

– Widespread use of treatment that emphasizes quality of life

Even if a patient’s life can be prolonged by treatment, if the patient’s quality of life is greatly reduced, the concept that treatment options need to be reconsidered will spread.

– Team medicine based on multidisciplinary cooperation

“Team medicine in which not only physicians but also nurses, pharmacists, rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, psychotherapists, and other professionals work together to support patients will become more widespread.

– Patient-centered medicine

“It will become increasingly important to think that patients themselves should take the initiative in selecting their own treatment plan, rather than doctors deciding it for them.

How to Fight Against Unidentified Cancer

Mr. Morinaga lost his life due to cancer of unknown origin. What kind of treatment methods are available for “cancer of unknown primary”?

The term “cancer of unknown primary” refers to “cancer in which the organ from which it originated cannot be identified. It accounts for 1-2% of all cancers and is considered to be highly difficult to diagnose and treat. It is diagnosed using the latest diagnostic methods, including the following

– Immunohistochemical staining (IHC): examines proteins on the surface of cancer cells to estimate the primary tumor

– Molecular cancer classification assay (MCCA): analyzes the genes of cancer cells to identify which organ they most likely originated from. The patient can choose whether to have the procedure performed within the scope of standard treatment or as an advanced medical treatment in an unrestricted manner.

Based on the results of IHC and MCCA, the most appropriate treatment is selected. Molecularly targeted drugs and immunotherapy may be used to target genetic mutations or immune checkpoint inhibitors. Comprehensive molecular profiling (CMP), a treatment method that analyzes the genetic information of cancer cells and selects the most appropriate therapeutic agent, is also available.”

As Mr. Morinaga said before his death, all advanced medical treatments are expensive. By speaking frankly about the circumstances of his treatment, he gave us, the survivors, a basis for making our own decisions.

Mr. Morinaga’s life during his battle with cancer was a great opportunity to spread the concept of “the importance of QOL” and “patient-centered medicine” in cancer treatment to society. It will become increasingly important for medical care to respect how patients want to live their lives, rather than just aiming to cure the disease. Medical care in the future should evolve to support “living life to the end in one’s own way,” as he did.

Mr. Morinaga, who has been fearless in making proposals mainly in the field of economics, has left us with valuable lessons to learn in the field of medicine and philosophy of life.