MovieChat Forums > The Earthling (1980) Discussion > I'm not a medical expert, but.....

I'm not a medical expert, but.....


I watch this movie(streamed via Netflix)for the first time last night and I'm troubled by Foley's terminal cancer.

How in the world is a terminal lung cancer patient (assumed to be lung because his pain was in his torso, plus Foley told Shawn he smoked too much), who is within days of dying as Holden's character was, able to repeatedly climb some of the most rugged, mountainous terrain in Australia? As I said, I'm not a medical expert, but the terminal lung cancer patients I've seen in my 58 years weren't even able to get out of bed long before they were within days of dying.

I just have trouble accepting that part of the storyline. Otherwise, it was a decent movie.

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Bit of a stretch, I agree. Seems like he's in really good shape for a guy who's about to die.

I'm happiest...in the saddle.

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Not all lung cancer is the same. My uncle died of it last year (even after having quit smoking 29 years before!) and he just got weaker, lost a lot of weight, and body in pain. Never hooked up to oxygen or confined to a bed and vomiting like a lot of dreaded cases. Or else he just had cancer period.

But yes, it's unrealistic he was still hiking in the outback when he had probably just a month left to live.

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