To the Editor:

I do think all of us are clear that (i) we don't want to be sick, and (ii) being a patient is a matter of time, so almost anybody could walk away from the disease journey. I do really subscribe to both statements, although, unfortunately, I am living with an incurable and rare form of malignant tumor, aka cancer, since the year 2001. Moreover, I have been on daily chemotherapy for the past 4 years and have been exposed over time to three major surgeries and six different types of chemotherapy.

Despite cancer, recently, I have been quite busy on learning how to manage an intensive insulin therapy needed to live with postsurgical diabetes. All these maladies have been compatible to more than 500 lectures given in the past 3 years in different parts of the world, sitting in more than 30 government and nongovernment positions, having a CEO position in a $2M annual budget Foundation for 12 years, creating several projects, enjoying a marriage of more than 20 years which includes two wonderful full-of-life boys, and writing over 200 papers of all kinds, including three nonfiction books and a novel. Am I a kind of superman? No way, I am a cancer patient! I know that life is short and is a gift that deserves to be lived intensively and with joy. Let others have the problems; let's focus on the solutions.

I don't care if I have done much or little, but I care about fulfilling a moral obligation to share my painful experience with others because what is happening to me might happen to you anytime. And, if that thing happens to you, I can assure you that you'd like to benefit from all helpful experiences at hand. Mine is one of them. However, my moral obligation to share personal experience is grounded on three major factors. First, it fits with my aim of preserving human dignity in front of the stigma surrounding cancer patients. Nobody wants to talk about it, but the stigma is always there. Second, it fits with my professional sense of purpose. I chose to be a doctor because I wanted to serve people facing vulnerability. Third, I have received from society more than I deserve and more than I could give back. I have an almost free medical care, including the latest innovations; an almost free medical school, a free 4 years of doctoral studies at Harvard, an almost free PhD in sociology, an interesting experience in government, etc. Despite an unfair and painful disease, I have been a fortunate man. After all these experiences, you have the moral duty to try to help others.

Finally, being a doctor, working in an academic setting, having experience in HTA, and being a patient puts me in a good position to bridge the gaps over prejudice and misunderstanding. Basically, I know how the stakeholders think and feel because I could easily walk in everybody's shoes. Look at your shoes and you can see my feet.