Japanese man achieved dream of becoming a doctor while battling cancer, dies at 31

TOKYO — A Japanese man who aspired to become a doctor while battling childhood cancer and fulfilling his dream died in September at the age of 31.

Noriyuki Iida, a native of Kobe, is working in a private clinic after completing training at Tokyo Cancer and Infectious Disease Center Komagome Hospital in Bunkyo Ward this spring. Despite the tragic fate of recurrence and continuous surgery, he still used his own experience in fighting the disease to treat patients.

According to his family, Iida had excellent academic performance since childhood and was versatile in sports such as rugby and skiing. In the autumn of the first year of junior high school, he began to show signs of physical discomfort: a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius lasted for about a week. An examination at the university hospital revealed a huge tumor weighing 2 kilograms in his abdomen. He underwent surgery and spent about a year in the hospital undergoing rigorous anti-cancer treatment.

When his mother Mika, 61, was told that her son’s life was in danger, she recalled: “I was shocked and didn’t understand what was happening.” She tried not to express her anxiety to Iida, but at about At the same time, her 29-year-old sister Hiroko was hospitalized with stress-induced gastroenteritis. The family is also fighting desperately.

Iida entered one of the most prestigious high schools in Hyogo Prefecture. His physical fitness declined and he struggled to keep up with gym classes and school activities. Mika encouraged her son by massaging her tired legs.

His hobby was playing guitar, which supported him during his battle with the disease. Iida is a big fan of guitarist Kotaro Oshio, admiring his skills and practicing Oshio’s songs until his fingernails wear out.

In July 2008, when Iida was a freshman in high school, he visited the “Ikiru” benefit concert organized by Mainichi Newspaper Company to defeat childhood cancer. Oshio is one of the performers. At the end of the concert, the guitarist gave two thumbs up for good luck.

In an interview during the show, Iida revealed his dream of becoming a pediatrician. “I want to be a doctor and make patients happy when they see my face, thereby boosting their immunity,” he reportedly told his family.

After graduating from high school, Iida successfully entered Tottori University Medical School, but in his third year, a tumor was discovered in his abdomen again, and part of his small intestine was removed. He has since undergone a series of relapses and surgeries. After graduation, he received two years of preliminary training to learn the basics of becoming a doctor, and four years of training required to become a urologist at Komagome Hospital.

After undergoing multiple surgeries while working at the hospital, Iida returned to work within a week or two of the surgery and continues to work in the medical field. Fumitaka Koga, chief of the Department of Nephrology and Urology, said of Iida, “He is a sociable and well-liked person who is liked by everyone at work. He works organically as a member of the team. The land played a role.”

Koga was once told by a patient, “Dr. Iida recently underwent surgery, but he already looks fine.” Koga said Iida successfully applied his experience to medical care to reassure patients and encourage. Iida continues to grow as a doctor while being loved by his patients.

Considering factors such as the cost of treatment, Iida chose a private clinic in Saitama Prefecture as a place of employment after training. However, the tumor spread to his lungs, and he was hospitalized at Komagome Hospital in August. Iida did not give up on living until the end, but he could not fight off the disease.

At his own request, Iida returned to his home in Tokyo from the hospital on September 17. 4. The next night, Mika, who was accompanying his son, said to him: “You still have a month, don’t you? Hold on.” Iida raised three fingers, compared his ring finger to a V shape, and then stretched out his hands. Arms, body collapsed on the sofa. I died just three days later.

September evening. On the 25th, his family held a “memorial service” in Bunkyo District, Tokyo. Medical staff and others put their hands together and laid flowers in front of his portrait. The background music played at the venue is Oshio music. Shunichi Sugasawa, 33, a former resident doctor at Iida, said: “He must have had a hard time, but he was always cheerful and never said anything negative. He was like the sun.”

Mika will never forget what her son told her in college: “I never thought I would be struggling so much in life.”

Mika said: “He was always positive and lived his short but intense life to the fullest. We are very proud of him. He gave his best until the end.”

(Japanese original by Chiwaki Kohei, Tokyo Metropolitan News Department)

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