My dad died of cancer(s) fifteen years ago. He spent his final month in bed at home, chatting with us and friends, knowing that he’d soon be gone, bed bound but sharp as a tack.

The day before he died, he climbed nimbly out of bed and did a little jig to show how spry he was.

Charming in its own way, although his lack of garments on his lower body (it made life easier as functions became less controlled) added a certain edginess to the event.

I’ve heard this is because a lot of symptoms are not from the disease itself but actually side effects of mounting an aggressive immune system response to the underlying condition. Once your body gives up the fight as a lost cause, you will get a burst of relief and restored function from the lack of immune activity but it happens just before total system collapse.

Well documented in Acute Radiation Syndrome, and features in the excellent show Chernobyl.