When I delivered the keynote address at our joint 1977 symposium on Cancer, Stress, and Death in Montreal, I took great pride in announcing my unique qualification for this singular honor-I had survived a normally fatal cancer, a histiocytic reticulosarcoma that had developed under the skin of my thigh several years pre­ viously. Faced with the physical and emotional realities of this situa­ tion, I refused to retreat from life in desperation. I immediately underwent surgery and cobalt therapy, but insisted on knowing my chances for a lasting recovery, which at that time seemed far from encouraging. Although I knew it would take tremendous self-discipline, I