Lostpedia has arranged a string of interviews with characters from The Lost Experience. Follow the links to submit your questions for Speaker and Javier Grillo-Marxuach!
Do you have an idea for a new wiki? Please share it with us here

From Lostpedia

Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by the uncontrolled division of cells and the spread of these abnormal cells to other tissues.

On Lost

Ben

In "Every Man for Himself", Jack, while in a medical area of The Hydra, saw an X-ray of a man in his 40's with a large tumor on his spine.

This was revealed in "The Cost of Living" to belong to Ben, who said that he wanted Jack to operate on him. Though it was not stated whether it was a malignant or benign tumor, Ben implied that he would not have much time to live if something was not done.

Later, Jack agrees to operate on Ben, in exchange for Kate and Sawyer being set free. He eventually removes the tumor, though the stitches later became infected. It is not yet known whether Ben returns to full health following the deal Jack makes with him, which commutes Juliet's sentence so she cannot be executed.

Rachel

Rachel had cancer and was going through chemotherapy. Her sister Juliet gave her medicine that allowed her to become pregnant. ("Not in Portland")

When Juliet was on the Island, Ben told her that the cancer had returned, but Jacob could heal Rachel if Juliet stayed on the Island to help the pregnant women. When Ben got cancer later, Juliet thought that Ben was lying and that Rachel was dead, but he proved to her that she was alive by showing her a live feed of Rachel with her son. ("One of Us")

Miscellaneous

• Rose was diagnosed with some sort of terminal illness prior to coming to the Island (not specified, but likely cancer). This was deemed untreatable at this point, and she sought the advice of a spiritual healer. Miraculously, upon arrival to the Island, the disease seemed to have undergone spontaneous remission.
• Diane Janssen had a terminal illness and was being treated for it.
• Angelo Busoni had a terminal tumor that Jack unsuccessfully operated on. ("The Hunting Party")
• While being examined because of headaches, Sawyer told Jack that his uncle died of a brain tumor. ("Deus Ex Machina")

In The Lost Experience/spinoff books

• Peter Thompson was diagnosed with inoperable lung and pancreatic cancer after a lifetime of smoking.
• The Alvar Hanso Cancer Center in Geneva, Switzerland was also mentioned.
• A tie-in novel with Lost, entitled Endangered Species, talked about Gayle Harrington (sister of Faith Harrington) who died of cancer.

Cast members

• Guest stars DJ Qualls and Evan Handler are both cancer survivors.
• The husband of L. Scott Caldwell who plays Rose passed away from cancer shortly before filming of Lost began.