My Doctor Emailed Me The Worst Possible News. It Sent Me Into A Tailspin — And Changed My Life.

"I don’t know if it was cowardice, lack of bedside manner, or just laziness that prompted my doctor to notify me by email."

I don’t know if it was cowardice, lack of bedside manner, or just laziness that prompted my doctor to notify me by email. One assumes this kind of news is best delivered in person or at least via the phone, but in any case, it put a crimp on my weekend.

“Just received the report from the radiologist, and unfortunately, it’s bad news,” he wrote. “I’m heading out for the holiday but try not to worry. When I return, we will schedule a lung biopsy and additional testing.” He attached a report to the email with test results highlighted with the ominous conclusion I had “advanced and very aggressive” lung cancer.

Try not to worry?

I had family in town for the Fourth of July and didn’t want to ruin their weekend by sharing my prognosis, but I was not good company. When the doctor returned, I stepped into our country’s health care hall of mirrors — a convoluted bureaucracy of doctors, insurance companies and clinics seemingly designed to create such stress that one might drop dead before receiving treatment.

It made no sense. I felt great, had never been a smoker, and from outward appearances was an exceedingly healthy 54-year-old man.